FUNDING of £3.8million towards a new junior school for Poole has been provisionally allocated by the Department for Education.

Borough of Poole has also received £1.4m for the linked expand of Oakdale Junior School – former Oakdale South Road Middle until the change in the age of transfer this month.

The sum towards a £5.6m new junior school on the former Fourways site at Constitutional Hill could mean an academy or a free school for the town. A condition of the funding, which is due to be confirmed by December 12, is that the council will fund any shortfall.

With a total capacity of 360 pupils aged seven to 11, the new school will help meet the growing need for Key Stage 2 places in central Poole, as increased numbers of children currently in Key Stage 1 move through the system.

Cllr Janet Walton, portfolio holder for children and young people, Borough of Poole said: “It’s great news that we have received this funding for the new school.

“Along with an additional £1.4m funding for the linked expansion of Oakdale Junior School, it will help provide places for the expanding pupil numbers in this area.”

The Education Act 2011 requires that where a local authority identified the need for a new school in its area, it must seek proposals to establish an academy/free school.

Expressions of interest from potential sponsors have been received and will be assessed alongside visits to sponsors existing schools, presentations and panel interviews.

The council will assess the proposals and indicate any preference to the DfE by October 18, who will confirm the sponsor. The £2.7m expansion of Oakdale Junior School is already underway, work having started in May this year. It is due to be completed in April 2014.