A new primary free school set up by a Christian charity has been given the go ahead to open next year.

Raynes Park Community School, set up by the Chapel St Community Schools Trust based in Crown Lane, Morden, was one of 102 free school applications approved by the Department for Education this week.

Despite having permission to go ahead, the proposed site for the school, which will serve families in the Merton and Kingston area, is yet to be announced.

The school is expected to welcome 60 reception year pupils when it opens in 2014 with a further 420 primary school places set to be created over the next seven years.

Dr Russell Rook, chief executive of Chapel St, said: "We are delighted that the application for Park Community School has been successful.

"As a local parent I’m aware of the anxiety that families feel when it comes to finding a good school.

"At Chapel St we believe it takes a community to raise a child and so we are working with leaders, educationalists, charities, churches and community groups to create the community school that local parents’ desire and our children deserve."

The charity has worked with organisations including the YMCA, Raynes Park Community Church and Roehampton University, the Doxa Deo church group and King’s College School, to set up the school.

The school, which will welcome children of all faiths and no faith, will specialise in music and English.

The proposed site and location of the Raynes Park Community School will be announced shortly.

Chapel St opened Atherton Community School, Greater Manchester’s first free school, in 2012 and are due to open their second school in Oxford in September.

For more information visit parkcommunityschool.co.uk