A charity is no longer in the running to open a free secondary school in Merton, leaving the path clear for the Harris Federation.

Merton’s Labour group has welcomed news that Chapel St, which opened a primary school with just 17 pupils in Morden last year, would not continue in its bid to open a secondary school because it wanted to concentrate on its other projects.

Chapel St said in October the new secondary school was due to open in September 2016 and would have been called Trinity High School.

A location for the school had not been disclosed, although speculation centred on the Chaucer Centre in Canterbury Road, Morden, Worsfold House in Church Road, Mitcham and a children’s centre in Leyton Road, Colliers Wood.

Recently the Wimbledon Guardian learnt the Harris Federation, which is behind Merton and Morden Academies, has been in talks with Merton Council about using the Merton Adult Education site in Whatley Avenue, Raynes Park, as a secondary school.

Merton Adult Education site could become secondary school - charity in talks with council

It is awaiting news from the Department for Education on its plans.

Whatley Avenue is currently home to adult education in the borough which is under threat of changes by the council as part of its £32m budget review.

A Chapel St spokeswoman said: "After much consideration the Chapel St Community Schools Trust has decided not to continue with our proposal to open Trinity High School in Merton at this time.

"As a trust we currently sponsor six schools and look forward to opening our seventh, Kingston Community School, (primary phase) in September.

"This decision has been made as a result of our commitment to prioritise and maximise the support and resources we offer to the children and families we are privileged to serve in these schools and communities."

The council’s Labour administration made it clear that it supported a rival bid from Harris Federation which it says has a strong track record of providing an excellent level of education in the borough, having turned around previously struggling schools.

Councillor Martin Whelton, Labour cabinet member for education, said: "The Labour administration has been clear all along that we wanted Harris, not Chapel St, to run our new secondary school.

"This is a common sense decision and I'm surprised the Conservative-led government and its Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond ever supported Chapel St, a provider with very little experience of running secondary schools."

MP Stephen Hammond said: "As usual Coun Whelton is wrong.

"Chapel St has a lot of experience in running schools.

"Local people will know I have supported both Harris and Chapel St.

"It is highly likely Merton will need more than one secondary school.

"I am disappointed Chapel St is leaving."

A public meeting to discuss plans for a primary school by Chapel St called Park Community in Morden, will be held on Wednesday, February 4.

It is currently operating from a former Salvation Army building but is hoping to open in the former Trinitarian Bible Society Morden Road in September.

The meeting will be held from 4pm to 7pm on Wednesday at the school in Crown Lane, Morden.

The charity expects to submit plans to the council at the end of February.