The process to name the new Church of England primary academy in the north of Plymouth has begun, with the local community being asked to pick a name for the new school.
 

The academy, which will open in September 2015, will now be extended to take up to 90 pupils a year, and will have capacity for 630 children, plus a 27 place nursery. It will serve the new Seaton housing development on Brest Road to the north of the city.
 

The academy will be part of the Diocese of Exeter, which has 130 church schools across Devon, and it will be operated by the Diocese’s St Christopher’s (Primary) Multi-Academy Trust.

The new buildings will be funded with money from the Department for Education, secured by a successful bid from Plymouth City Council.
 

As with all Church of England schools, it will be open to all children, regardless of faith.

The process to appoint a new headteacher for the academy will begin next month and an interim governing body - chaired by Reverend Chris Routledge of St Edward’s Church, Eggbuckland – is working to ensure that everything comes together in partnership with Plymouth City Council in time for the academy to open next autumn.
 

Suggested names for the new academy have been sent to parishes and Parish Church Councils in the area to allow them to be part of the decision over the new name. Traditionally, Church of England schools are named after a saint and the new academy on Brest Road is likely to follow suit.

In its proposal to become the Academy’s sponsors, St Christopher's (Primary) Multi-Academy Trust, which deals with new academies on the Diocese's behalf, said: "The new academy will play a full part in ensuring that the local community in Derriford and the city of Plymouth as a whole is successful economically and socially.”
 

There is a scarcity of primary school places for children at the moment in the area.  The new academy will complement the schools and church schools already within the wider area, but will predominantly serve the proposed new Seaton housing development.
 

Philip Mantell, Director of Education for the Diocese of Exeter, said: “Plans for the new academy are progressing quickly and it is at a really exciting stage. We are very pleased that we have been able to offer a three form entry for parents. The new academy will be very much part of local community life and we want the community to be involved from the start, and helping choose the name is just the beginning of this.”
 

The new primary was originally agreed as a two form entry school (two classes per year) however changes to the Council’s Basic Need programme – designed to ensure there are sufficient places for Plymouth’s growing population of school-aged children, meant the opportunity to increase the size of the new school was possible.
 

Councillor Nicky Williams, Cabinet member for children and young people at Plymouth City Council, said: “We are delighted that the Diocese has agreed to the creation of a larger primary school which will accommodate three classes per year. This will meant the north of the city will benefit from an additional 630 capacity brand new academy for children aged 4 to 11 and will ensure we have enough high quality school places to offer parents and their children in the coming years as our population increases. Our aim is to provide children with the best education possible, regardless of where they live in the city.”