PARENTS and the public are being asked for their thoughts on the building of a new secondary school at Richfield Avenue.

Plans are in place for the 900-place free school to open by 2021 should the proposals be approved by councillors following a consultation.

Councillor Ashley Pearce, Reading’s lead councillor for education, said: “This public consultation is an early but important step in the creation of a new secondary school for Reading.

“After the council’s major expansion of primary school places in Reading it is now essential we turn our attention to meeting the increasing demand for secondary school places.

“Increased provision has already been delivered with the opening of The Wren School, the UTC and Maiden Erlegh (Reading) and now we want to hear from parents and the public about their views on the proposed new school in Richfield Avenue and how it should operate.”

Reading borough needs an additional 1,000 new secondary school places by 2025 and this consultation will seek views on what the new school’s curriculum should focus on, what characteristics would be the most important, options for admission criteria and the preferred type of academy to run the school.

Other schools in the area will also be asked for their thoughts on the new institution and its location, which was selected by the council last month.

Following the consultation the council is set to apply for funding from the Department for Education for the new school.

The consultation can be found online and the deadline for responses is Friday, August 31.