INTERESTED members of the public are being invited to attend a public meeting, to discuss the development of the new Wye Valley Free School initiative.

The meeting is to be held at the Bridges Community Centre, Monmouth on Monday October 6, from 7.30 - 9pm.

Here, those attending will be given a progress report – which centres on the forthcoming decision from the Department of Education, (DofE), on whether the Free School can go ahead. News of the decision is expected to be released at a meeting between the DofE and other Free School organisers, on October 16.

The Government set up the Free School Initiative in 2010 to encourage the setting up of new educational establishments, offering different approaches and styles of education, to complement the current local options available.

They hope to set up a school which will offer an 'all-through' establishment, offering education from age 4 to 16, on the borders of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire.

Having put back the possible opening date of the school earlier this year, the organisers have now said that they hope to open their doors in September next year.

They are also awaiting permission from the DofE before they attempt to source where the proposed school will be located.

They aim to offer 170 places at primary, and 240 at secondary level, with small learning groups 'organised by stage, not age.'