In a speech at The Green School in Isleworth, the Prime Minister, who was accompanied by the Education Secretary, Rt Hon. Nicky Morgan MP, and local MP Mary Macleod announced 49 new free schools, including two in Brentford and Isleworth.

The Green School for Boys and the HIP (Hounslow Improvement Partnership) School were announced as the Hounslow Borough’s latest free schools. Mary had previously urged the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and the Education Secretary to approve the schools to satisfy the Borough’s dire need for more school places. The new schools add to a list of more than 400 free schools that are open or have been approved, totalling 230,000 places.

Mary said:

“The Borough has a critical need for over 870 additional secondary school places by 2020. So I was thrilled to hear today from the Prime Minister that the two local secondary schools that I have campaigned for have been approved.  Part of securing our country’s future is making sure the next generation has access to outstanding education. That’s exactly what our free schools programme is doing here in West London and I look forward to The Green School for Boys and the HIP secondary school being created and making a difference to the lives of our young people.”

The Prime Minister said:

“New schools like the Green School for Boys and the HIP School are an important part of our plan to improve education so our children can compete with the world's best and enjoy a better future.

The opening of the two schools will provide a welcome boost to families in West London. Mary has been a strong voice for local schools and I am pleased that we have been able to deliver for the area.”

In his speech, the Prime Minister pledged to create an extra 270,000 school places by 2020, making the free schools programme the most successful in national history.