The ‘free school’ had been expected to open in 2026 after a permanent new school building had been built next door to the existing Thomas Clarkson Academy.

However, demand for more school places in North Cambridgeshire resulted in the Department for Education and Cambridgeshire County Council looking at viable options to create additional school places sooner than this. Working alongside Brooke Weston Trust, who will run the school once it opens, the authorities have been working together to open the new school as part of a temporary phase one starting this September 2024. The project gained the necessary approvals to open shortly before half term.

At an information evening for parents on Monday 3^rd June, Richard Scott, who will become Executive Principal for both Thomas Clarkson Academy and the new The Wisbech Academy unveiled the new school branding, plans for how the school will open in the first phase, and explained how parents will need to apply for a school place for this September.

He said: “When it was clear that the local authority needed additional school places, we wanted to do everything we could to support the local community by opening the new school as soon as possible.

“While most of the decisions were out of our hands, we are pleased that the Department for Education and council were able to resolve everything as quickly as possible to achieve this, and allow the school to open this September.

“In the background, we have been working with primary school pupils to create the new school branding ready for September. It was important to them that it was modern, vibrant, and clearly reflected Wisbech’s history – multiple sections coming together to form an abstract ship sail features in the new logo.

“The new school – in its first phase and permanent phases – has the opportunity to make a real difference for the local community. The Wisbech Academy will be a place where people ‘thrive with ambition’ – working collaboratively with Thomas Clarkson Academy, but offering something distinctly different for the local parents and students.”

A modern, temporary, modular school building is due to be put in place over the summer months, with initial work starting over the next few weeks.

In September, it is expected that Year 7 students at The Wisbech Academy will be taught within a separate area within the Thomas Clarkson Academy building initially and then move across into the new phase one school building before Autumn half term.

Mr Scott added: “Making sure our students feel settled and supported is most important to us. Therefore, providing parents and students with the certainty that they will be attending school, within the existing Thomas Clarkson Academy building at the start of September felt like a sensible and practical option – while the Department for Education and council complete the first phase building.

“We will move into the new building as soon as possible to help make sure the school develops its own identity.

“We also look forward to working with the new students to share and develop the plans for the purpose-built new school building which, subject to planning, will open during the 2026/27 school year.

“We can’t wait to welcome parents and students this September.”

Parents who have already expressed an interest in a school place, or those who are now interested in a place, will need to complete an official application form by Wednesday 12^th June.

The application form can be completed by visiting www.thewisbechacademy.org

Parents who are interested in applying for a place will have the chance to meet and ask questions of the new school leaders at drop-in sessions at Thomas Clarkson Academy over the next few weeks. Parents can visit the website to book into one of these sessions.