BURNLEY’S proposed free high school has plans to expand to include a sixth form within five years of opening.

The group behind Burnley High School, a ‘Christian ethos’ secondary earmarked to open in September 2014, has submitted its application for recognition to the Department for Education.

Chapel Street, the community service provider behind the plans for the school, said the sixth form could cater for 200 pupils in 2019.

Headteachers Julie Bradley, from St Leonard’s in Padiham, and Dawn Forshaw, from Wellfield CE Primary, Burnley, are supporters of the project.

Other backers include Professor Paul Clarke, founder of horticultural project Incredible Edible Todmorden, The Life Church Burnley and Community Solutions Lancashire.

Dr Russell Rook, chief executive officer at Chapel Street said: “We’re hoping to have an announcement by the end of May or the beginning of June.

“It’s a bit tricky at the minute with local council elections coming up and Parliament being away.

“The interviews and assessments we’ve had from the Department for Education officials so far have been very positive.

“The feedback too from community partners and primary school parents we have spoken to in Burnley and the surrounding area has been very positive.

“In general, I think there are very few parents who would say no to having more choice about their children’s future.”

The school intends to focus on sustainability and science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.

The sixth form curriculum will be based upon ecological and environmental sciences, entrepreneurial skills and ecologically-focused vocational courses.

A number of potential sites for the school have been identified, but none confirmed.

Its announcement in December was met with criticism by the National Union of Teachers.