The Maiden Erlegh School in Reading is due to welcome its first 180 students in September when the sought-after school in Earley opens in a new location in east Reading.

But with building work yet to begin, the school’s executive head teacher, Dr Peter Thomas, explained to parents last Wednesday how a partnership with their neighbours at UTC in Crescent Road would provide the first students with a short-term home.

By next September, it is hoped that construction will be complete and the first two year groups will be able to enjoy state-of-the-art facilities.

Dr Thomas said: “These students are going to be the first to go through the new school. They will be the pioneers and the pathfinders for us all.

“It is a different experience to be the founding students of a school. In addition to hiring inspirational teachers and leaders who have a proven track record, I want to use some of our existing staff. I have got a team of teachers already who want to work across both sites and as we are only a mile and a half away that is quite easy to do.”

Initial plans are to open up for 900 youngsters from Years 7 to 11 with a reserved place at the school’s Sixth Form, in Earley, for those who make the grade and wish to stay on.

Dr Thomas said: “At the moment, we take in a lot of external students for A-levels but we will be taking in more of our own home-grown students in the future.

“I have been asked to ensure that the Maiden Erlegh ethos is retained in both schools and we will transfer those approaches from the existing school into the new one.”

In an effort to give something back to the community plans include the possibility for opening up school facilities to local residents in the evenings.

The designs by architects Stride Treglown shown at the meeting are undergoing some minor tweaks before being submitted to Reading Borough Council for official approval in the coming weeks.