SENIOR leaders from North Cestrian Grammar School in Altrincham have been interviewed by education chiefs as for it bids to become a non-selective, non-fee-paying academy.

It is regarded as a positive step towards NCGS achieving its free school status and members of the Department for Education (DfE) are now set to visit North Cestrian as part of the application process.

The school has been working closely with education chiefs and Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, which is among supporters of the scheme.

Lee Bergin, headmaster at North Cestrian, said: “We want to provide parents in the area with a greater choice of educational establishment, and this has been the basis for our application, for which more than 700 have now shown support.

“We felt the interview with the DfE was positive and structures are in place for a September 2016 opening, but we still need to see evidence that there is sufficient demand and support from current and prospective parents. We expect to hear a result by mid- March. However, in the meantime, North Cestrian remains a selective, fee-paying grammar school and places for September 2015 can now be applied for. Pupils on school roll at the point of becoming Free School will remain members of the school and will cease to pay fees.”

An Open Day takes place on Saturday, April 25, 11.00am to 1.pm and the open week will be held on the week commencing Monday, April 27.

But the proposals has proved controversial in some quarters, with 10 of Trafford's secondary schools headteachers expressing their concerns in an open letter published last year.

A number of concerns were raised, including concerns about the financial costs involved in the proposed change in status, adding "we are unsure what effect this will have on existing school budgets."

Anyone interested in finding out more about the bid or to pledge their support should call 0161 928 1856 or visit ncgs.co.uk. You can also email s.roby@ncgs.co.uk.