NORTH East Hampshire’s MP and a district councillor are calling for people to get involved to bring a free special school to north Hampshire.

Ranil Jayawardena and Hampshire County and Hart District councillor Steve Forster praised the announcement back in July that the Department for Education (DfE) has given permission to find an independent organisation to act as proposer for the new school.

Now the pair are urging residents and parents to put themselves forward to become board members and become more involved with the building process of the school.

The country council is hoping to open a new free special school, in Popley, which would meet the demand for a new all-through school for children with social communication needs and autism spectrum disorders.

Mr Jayawardena said: “Parents are always telling me the same thing—they want the choice of an education tailored to their child’s needs. A new free special school would provide that tailored choice to even more local children.”

He add: “There are a range of organisations ready to work with local residents, but we still need you! If you want a real input on the education of your children, please get in touch.”

When sponsorships have been brought in and the site constructed, the free school will be run by a DfE appointed sponsor.

Cllr Forster added: “It’s great that the Department for Education and Hampshire County Council have taken this step—so we now need parents on board.

“Full funding is already in place, as is a site for the school. I’m keen to bring together a group of parents who would like to become governors of the new school, to work with me in establishing it and defining its focus and specialisms.”

Organisations interested in sponsoring the school should visit hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/schoolplacesplan/specialfreeschoolproposal.