The new Southwark Free School  will open its doors this September after education secretary Michael Gove signed the funding agreement for the school.

The school will eventually be located at 399 Rotherhithe New Road but will not be able to move into that building for another two years.

The first pupils will be accommodated in the Ledbury Estate  TRA Hall in Pencraig Way SE15, just south of the Old Kent Road.

The Ledbury Estate site is nearly two miles from the Borough area in SE1 where the school had originally planned to open.

“This is fantastic news and the culmination of months of hard work and determination,” says chairman Patrick Shine.

“We are now set to open in September and begin to realise our ambition of providing an outstanding primary school in Southwark.”

Jeanette Mason, chair of the Ledbury Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, said: “This is absolutely fantastic! The hall has badly needed repairing for years and it’s empty during the day because nobody wants to use it.

“This way, not only do we get a brand new school that will help a lot of young families on the estate, but we’ll have a completely renovated hall and much needed investment in the community.”

Patrick Shine added: “Located in the estate, our school will be at the heart of the community, a place where children will have the chance to benefit from a first class education. We want to thank the secretary of state and Ledbury Tenants’ and Residents’  Association for enabling this to happen.”

Southwark Free School is be holding a series of public exhibitions for local residents and prospective parents. Taking place on Thursday 16 August 3pm-9pm and Saturday 18 August 10am-4pm at 399 Rotherhithe New Road, the public exhibitions will allow residents the chance to come and view the plans, meet the project team and have their say on what is being proposed.

Southwark Free School will eventually accommodate up to 420 children as well as up to 60 nursery places on the site of the old print works at 399 Rotherhithe New Road.