PLANS for a new secondary school in the Chiltern district are set to be submitted - paving the way for it to be open in two years' time.

A group of parents has unveiled proposals they intend to send to the Department for Education for the new Chiltern Ridgeway School, designed to improve the choice of secondary schools in the county.

Its catchment area will include Great Missenden, Prestwood, Wendover, Aston Clinton and Weston Turville.

A formal application to create the new school is due to be made in October and Chiltern Ridgeway could be open in time for the 2016/17 academic year if the plans are given approval.

In a statement the parents' group behind the scheme said: "There is a local need for more choice of schools at secondary level. Local primary schools have either had to increase their intake due to additional demand for school places or are oversubscribed; in time this will lead to an increase in demand for places at secondary level. Local secondary schools are already at full capacity.

"Our school will be a small school with 80 pupils per year group, in four classes of 20, enabling teachers to focus on the needs of every member of their class.

"Our school will provide a compulsory enrichment hour at the end of each day giving pupils a wide choice of sporting, academic, creative and other activities. It is believed that to give them this choice will strongly motivate them, and will enable each pupil to find something they really value and excel at. We want each pupil to reach their full potential academically, socially and personally.

"We believe that our school would offer a distinctive choice for families and a clear alternative to the grammar system prevailing in Buckinghamshire."

No site has been chosen for the proposed school but the parents' group said: "We will ensure it is convenient for the communities of Wendover, Great Missenden and Prestwood."

A public meeting to discuss the plans will take place at Wendover Library Meeting Room at 7.30pm on Wednesday, July 9.

Parents can give direct feedback and register an interest in the school at www.chilternridgeway.com or by emailing info@chilternridgeway.com.