We already run 10 primary and secondary schools throughout East Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire, including the ‘Good’ rated Thomas Clarkson Academy and Peckover Primary School in Wisbech.

We also run the Brooke Weston Teaching School Alliance, throughout the region which is responsible for training new teachers, delivering professional qualifications for teachers, and providing school-to-school support.

The decision was made after the DfE announced it planned to create 21 new schools across the country as part of its latest wave of Free School applications. The Wave 14 criteria focused on areas where there is both a need for more school places and historically low education standards.

Dr Andrew Campbell, Chief Executive of Brooke Weston Trust, said: 'We are very pleased to learn we have been successful in our application to open a new school in Wisbech.

'Everyone at Brooke Weston Trust is looking forward to working with local stakeholders as we embark on this exciting new development for the town. The new school will be a welcome addition to the BWT family, joining our other two ‘Good’ schools in Wisbech, Thomas Clarkson Academy and Peckover Primary School.

'We look forward to working with the Department for Education to formalise the details and sharing more information about our plans with the community in the near future.'

Our proposal was to create a new inclusive 11-16 comprehensive school for up to 600 students. This would create much needed additional school place capacity in the region for 120 students each year. The proposal did not include a sixth form.

The new school would work in close partnership with Thomas Clarkson Academy and is expected to specialise in STEM subjects.

We will now work with the DfE and the local authority to identify a suitable location and agree a timeline for opening the new school.