A drive to launch a bilingual Spanish and English primary school in Spalding this September has ended in disappointment.
The government’s Department for Education (DfE) has turned down the application by Invicta Group.
Spalding has recently been identified as having too little provision for primary school places in the future due to the town’s anticipated continued population growth.
Invicta Group chairman Carol Clare said the free school, which would have been single-form entry, would have been over-subscribed.
The DfE gave feedback on its decision on Tuesday.
Mrs Clare said: “They picked up on several points; some of them they had misinterpreted. But they felt that we should have engaged and communicated for a longer period of time, although they accepted that there was evidence that demand was exceptional.”
Mrs Clare admitted she was “extremely disappointed” at the outcome and said no further bid would be made.
For the many parents who had declared an interest – and had seen possible uniforms – it’s frustration for a second time.
Mrs Clare is a former chief executive of The Phoenix Family of Schools Trust which withdrew a similar application in 2013.
Invicta Group said: “We appreciate how disappointing this will be to the many parents who have shown their support and enthusiasm about our academy.
“We know there is a real need for new schools in Spalding but do appreciate that the Department for Education can only grant a limited number of applications.
“We will not be resubmitting a new bid and we hope that the parents of Spalding one day get the school they have said they want and which they have waited a long time for.”
Invicta says it had identified three possible sites, including one in the town centre.
