A free school in Radlett has secured a site, three months after it was originally scheduled to open. 

Harperbury Free School was due to open this September in the former Harperbury Hospital in Harpers Lane.

Schools’ minister Lord Nash announced in February the Department for Education had failed to secure the site in time, meaning its opening would be delayed for a year.

However, The Education Funding Agency has announced today it has secured the site from the Department of Health on behalf of the Harperbury Free School Trust within the grounds of the former Harperbury Hospital off Harper Lane.

Chairman of governors, Sara L'efquihi, said: "It has taken a long time to get to this point but we are delighted that we have finally managed to secure what was always our preferred site for the school.

"We know that securing planning permission may not be easy but this feels like a significant step in the right direction to provide our community with the school it so badly needs and I can only thank those within the various government departments who have worked so hard to make it happen."

Founding member Clive Glover said early indications are that the planning risk is not inconsiderable as this is a major development on Green Belt land but the trust will continue to work closely with the EFA and St Albans planners to ensure they have all the information they need upon which to base their decision, including evidence of the strong parental demand for a school in the area.

The school site is set to be on the northern end of the former hospital site, close to Harper Lane. 

The new Kingsley Green Hospital has recently opened at the far end of the site and a sizeable future housing development will be built on part of the 230 acres site over the next few years.

Although the school buildings will not be completed in time for the initial intake of students next September, Governors are working closely with the Education Funding Agency to secure the use of an existing building within the catchment area for the school on a temporary basis from September 2015.

The trust is committed to securing a temporary building which could house students comfortably for up to three years to ensure that, if as we hope will be the case, planning permission is secured for the permanent site, there is sufficient time to complete the school’s permanent accommodation. They hope details of this building can be announced shortly.

Harperbury Free School is a new state secondary school primarily for families living in Shenley, Radlett, London Colney, Bricket Wood, Park Street, Borehamwood and Elstree.

There are no entrance exams, no faith or gender requirements; admissions are determined by proximity to the school site at Harperbury.


The school will open in September 2015 to the initial intake of 120 Year 7 students and will grow year by year until full with up to 840 students in 2021.