Plans are being put together to establish a new free school in a deprived area of Portland, as parents are “desperate” for an accessible primary school in the area.

A group of people are hoping to submit an application to the Department of Education for a new free primary school in Underhill, Portland Town councillor Lucy Grieve has revealed.

Free schools are a type of state school which can be set up by a group of people and are directly funded by central government and outside the control of local authorities.

The bid comes in light of news that Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy (IPACA) has decided to transfer all its pupils from years one to four from its Osprey Quay campus in Underhill to its Maritime House campus on the other side of the island. 

Cllr Lucy Grieve, who is liaising with the group hoping to submit the free school application, suggested the decision by IPACA was a key motivation for the plans.

She declined to identify the group behind the plans at this time.

The councillor, who represents Underhill on Portland Town Council, said: “The two are very much connected. If there was still provision at the Osprey Quay campus up to year four then there probably would not be any need for a new primary school.” 

She added: “From September 2017, all primary-age children from five years old and upwards living in Underhill will have to be transported to school either nearly three miles away in the south of the island or across the causeway to Wyke or even further afield.” 

Cllr Grieve believes that, because of demand, many Underhill parents may fail to secure a place for their child at their chosen school.

She also said it was “desirable” that a primary school should be “in the community” and should be “walking or cycling distance” away. 

Jennifer Foot, who has two children at Osprey Quay campus and one at Maritime House campus with IPACA, said that a new primary school for Underhill children was necessary because the other options are inaccessible, especially for parents trying to fit transporting their children in around work hours, and more costly to get their children to.

She said: “I think it’s needed. Obviously with the proposed plans of moving years one to four it cuts a lot of parents in Underhill off.” 

Before the application is submitted, a survey will be conducted whereby parents and carers of children aged zero to nine years old from Underhill will be invited to fill out a form so as to find out if there is sufficient demand for a new primary school in the area. 

Forms for the survey will be available for parents to fill in at a range of centres and buildings across Portland from Monday, July 3, including the Tesco in Easton, Tophill Library and the Osprey Leisure Centre.

There will also be people inviting parents to fill out a form outside the main entrance to IPACA’s Osprey Quay campus after school at 3pm. 

Cllr Grieve was confident that there would be a good response from parents and hopes the free school can be “a new way forward” for Underhill. 

She said: “From everything I have heard I think there is quite a bit of demand but obviously we will find out for definite.”

She added: “Parents are desperate. They feel trapped, they feel they have no options.”

It is thought the earliest the school would be ready to take on its first batch of pupils will be September 2019.

Survey forms will also be available to fill in at Allsorts Brackenbury, Royal Manor Health Centre, Gatehouse Health Centre and Jumping Beans in Weston.