A NEW school is being planned by parents frustrated and concerned their children could miss out on places if the status quo remains.

Dr Stephen Jones, from Burnham, is just one of a group of around 20 teachers and parents who have submitted a proposal to the Department for Education (DfE) for a two-form entry junior school, called Beeches Junior School, at a location yet to be decided.

The new junior school, which it is planned to be around either Burnham or Fulmer, would cater for 240 students once full.

Dr Jones, 46, and a father-of-three, has raised his concerns with the lack of junior school places in the area and fears his children may struggle to gain a place, unless the proposed new Free School is given the go-ahead.

The group was set up in October 2014 and has successfully received £5,000 from the New Schools Network to fund promotional events to help gain support for the school.

If successful, the new school will open in September 2017 and the group says it will improve educational choice for the community.

Dr Jones said: “I initially got involved because I have three young children, who are around, or approaching, the reception age, and the lack of junior school places is worrying.

“We started talking to local authorities in April, and as a group we meet every week at someone’s house to keep the topic fresh and moving forward.

“We’re looking to have classes of 30 pupils maximum, with 240 being the capacity of the school."

“If successful, which we’re confident that we will be, then we’ll continue to be governors for the school, and we’ll be looking to recruit teachers and headteachers.

“We do already have teachers in the group, so there is a strong possibility that they’d want and will gain employment at the new school.”

The group has stated the new junior school will address both what it sees as a current shortage at Key Stage 2 places around South Bucks and will help satisfy a demand for good school places in the future.

The group held three open evening meetings this week and has produced a website to keep the community updated on the proposal's progress.

To find out more about the proposal, go to: www.beechesjuniorschool.co.uk.