BOURNEMOUTH’S first Free School is getting ready to open in September after receiving its funding agreement from Education Secretary Michael Gove.

Parkfield School will be housed in temporary accommodation in a former office block in the town centre.

Principal Terry Conaghan said the school will move to a permanent site after two years.

Parkfield will be an all-through school for pupils between the ages of four and 19 and will offer an alternative education to other state-funded schools.

There will be no fees with reception and Key Stage 1 pupils being taught using the Montessori method and secondary pupils following the International Bacca-laureate curriculum.

Mr Conaghan told the Daily Echo the school will open at Dorset House in Christchurch Road this year and said there are places available for pupils in Years Reception-4 and 7-9.

Parkfield Schoool was originally due to open last year but it was delayed due to problems finding premises.

Director Sam Hanson said: “This has been a journey with many twists and turns. What began as a seed of an idea from a small group of forward-thinking, like-minded individuals is now coming to fruition.

“We are all looking forward to our opening in September 2013 and the positive addition Parkfield School will be to our local community and to the educational landscape of both Bournemouth and Poole.

Details about the school and its admissions procedure are available at parkfieldschool.org