An experienced teacher from Barnes has been appointed to head up a new free school to ensure it will cater to the needs of the community.

Thomson House in Mortlake has appointed Claire Doland, who has been teaching for 20 years and currently teaches music at Barnes Primary.

The free school, which will open in September next year, will first accept two reception classes of about 25 pupils in each, taking the same amount each year thereafter and growing to just under 340 in total when the school is full in 2019.

Mrs Doland said the school will offer two extra hours of music and three hours of sport per week.

She said: “The arts are going to play a big part in our school, as are all the subjects. I’m really excited.

"It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for me but also for parents as well and the children in the community to be able to start a school from the ground up.

"It’s so exciting and we just hope that those parents that join us will give us all their support and help us make it a really first class school in the area.”

Admissions to Thomson House, which will take four to 11-year-olds, are handled by Richmond Council and close on January 15.

Mrs Doland said: “I believe children learn best when they are happy, so to have confident children with high self esteem is paramount. The power of effort will be highly regarded. We believe children who work hard and make good efforts will get good results.”

Matthew Paul, head of school commissioning for the council, said: “It’s a key priority of the council to see free schools developed in the area to supplement the council’s own school expansion to provide more places.

"It adds to the diversity of provisions within the local area because free schools have their own distinctive ethos in the same way that any other school would have, so it’s another possibility for local parents in choosing their preferences.”