PARENTS and carers can now apply to send their children to a brand new primary school opening in Taunton in September 2023.

Orchard Grove Primary School, in Comeytrowe, will welcome its first cohort of pupils at the start of the next academic year.

Richard Healey, the newly appointed headteacher at this school is 'really looking forward to welcoming the new students'.

He said: "Learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom and I truly believe in lifelong learning.

"Instilling a love of reading within young people is a passion of mine as the benefits throughout life are so vast.

"I am really looking forward to involving myself in the Orchard Grove community and meeting our new families.”

Somerset County Gazette:

Mr Healey is one of only eight Headteachers in the UK to be shortlisted for the prestigious Times Educational Supplement School Awards in the category of Headteacher of the Year 2020.

His background in education was in Bristol where he worked across three schools, beginning his career as a class teacher and leading him to the role of Headteacher at Perry Court E-Act Academy for three years.

In 2020, Richard was appointed as the Headteacher for IKB Primary School in Wellington and the Executive Primary Headteacher for The Castle Partnership Trust.

Grounds work has already begun at the school. Contractors begin the detailed programme of work in January 2023, after the land transfer has completed. This is expected to take approximately 47 weeks.

Children from Orchard Grove will get a priority place at The Castle School in Taunton.  

Somerset County Gazette:

The Trust will have been working with these children from a young age and will want to continue the good relationships with families into secondary school.

The school will also be hosting a series of open days soon.

They will be held at Isambard Kingdom Brunel Primary School in Wellington.

The school said: "Come along and meet the team and see what The Castle Partnership Trust can offer you and your child.

"The dates are Friday, December 2 at 9.15am and again at 3.45pm.

"To book please email: office@IKBschool.co.uk or contact 01823 795900 for any queries."

The school will officially open in September 2023, initially in designated areas of the sister school Isambard Kingdom Brunel Primary School (IKB), which is on the Taunton side of Wellington.

How do parents apply?

For the first year only, applications for Orchard Grove are processed separately from the normal Somerset Council Councils process.

Therefore, you will need to complete a separate application form for Orchard Grove (available on the website under 'Admissions') as well as your SCC application for other choices of school.

For September 2023, you will be able to choose four schools if one of these is Orchard Grove.