A DROP-IN session has been announced for parents to find out more about plans to set up a specialist creative arts primary school in York.

The event is to be held at Clementhorpe Community Centre, in Lower Ebor Street, on Friday between 2pm and 4.30pm. Other sessions are also being planned.

Richard Ludlow, chief executive of the Ebor Academy Trust, said: “We are holding our first drop-in in the heart of the South Bank area in response to last week’s public meeting at Scarcroft Primary School, where council officers’ presented their recommendation to solve the primary school place planning problems."

As previously reported in The Press, Ebor is behind the plans for the Creative Arts Academy York, which they hope will be situated at the former Park & Ride site at Askham Bar, should their application to the Department for Education be approved.

Mr Ludlow said: “It was clear at last week’s meeting that there was a need for further consideration of all the options. Questions were asked of our plans and so we are happy to step forward to explain our ideas.

"Our catchment will be from across the whole of the City of York so we are not competing with any individual existing school, however we will be able to ease pressure for places as York expands.

“We want to give parents the opportunity to choose between schools, rather than leave schools to choose pupils. We feel this is a chance to create something different and entirely new for the children of York.”

Parents, carers – and children – are welcome at the drop-in event, where Ebor Academy Trust staff and creative arts practitioners will be on hand.

Mr Ludlow, said: “By talking to people we are also helping refine and develop our own plans, so that our application reflects what people will want from the new school."

The Ebor Academy Trust runs Robert Wilkinson Primary Academy in Strensall, Haxby Road Primary Academy in York, Ebor Academy Filey on the Yorkshire coast and Brotherton and Byram Community Primary Academy near Knottingley. In September this year they will open Staynor Hall Community Primary Academy, a brand new £5.5m school to satisfy basic need provision in Selby.

The creative arts website is www.creativeartsacademyyork.org where parents register their interest for their children to attend.