A bid to set up a Greek Orthodox free school in Trent Park has moved a step closer after ministers gave initial approval to the application.
Department for Education (DfE) officials will now interview the leaders of the group wanting to set up the St Andrew the Apostle Greek Orthodox School in the Middlesex University campus in the park on Monday.
If approved, the new school would take in pupils aged 11 to 18 predominantly from Enfield and Barnet from September 2013, with up to 50 per cent being from a Greek Orthodox background, and pupils of other religions or no faith also accepted.
Classical Education Trust chairman, Yiannis Pareas, said: “We are delighted to be successfully through to interview at the DfE, particularly because so much has happened, even since submission of our application in February.
“Demand for places is still growing, as is interest in teaching and other senior posts.”
An application to open a school in the borough by the Classical Education Trust and Russell Education Trust last year was rejected by the Government and organisers were told to iron out some problems and return with a fresh bid.
The university is due to move all of its students to its Hendon campus at the end of the academic year, after plans to redevelop the Trent Park site were twice rejected by Enfield Council because of environmental concerns.