Britain’s First Greek Orthodox Secondary School Granted Approval

Britain’s first Greek Orthodox secondary school has been given government approval to open in September 2013.

Although the site for St Andrew the Apostle remains to be approved, proposals include opening the school at Middlesex University’s Trent Park campus on Bramley Road.

The school was in fact one of 28 secondary free schools to be given the green light by the Department of Education on Friday, and will welcome 11 to 19-year-olds looking for education based on the Christian values and principles of the Greek Orthodox faith.

Classical Education Trust (CET) chairman, Yiannis Pareas, said, “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to open a school that serves the community in Barnet and Enfield as well as the wider Greek Orthodox community in North London.”

The CET and the Russell Education Trust (RET) will work together to run the new secondary school.

Mr Pareas added, “The long-term aim of the CET and RET is to ensure that a state-funded school can increase the number of students from all backgrounds progressing to university and studying maths, sciences and classical subjects.”

RET spokesperson, Karen Lynch, said, “We are thrilled with this news because the plans we have for St Andrew the Apostle are so exciting and seem to have captured the imagination of local parents who want another outstanding school in this part of London. We are also honoured to be supporting the country’s very first Greek Orthodox Secondary School.”