Education Secretary Nicky Morgan says she is “delighted” at the enthusiasm shown for plans to create Cumbria’s first purpose-built free school.

A decision is due later this month on whether a bid to create a primary school beside a successful children’s nursery close to Carlisle has been successful.

David and Jenn Farrell have led a team which has pitched plans for a 420-pupil school to be created on land beside their Stone Eden Nursery, which has been running for 10 years. If given the go-ahead, it would be the first purpose-built free school in the county.

Although remaining tight-lipped on any possible news during a visit to flood-hit secondary schools in Carlisle, Mrs Morgan said about the Stone Eden proposals: “We’re delighted when we get great free school applications from parents and groups and some of them have been really very good indeed.

“We’re really delighted by the enthusiasm being shown here by parents and community from what MP John Stevenson has told me about things like how much it is wanted and needed here.”

The minister, who visited Trinity School, Richard Rose Central Academy and Newman School, added that an announcement on the next wave of successful free school applications was expected this term but The Cumberland News understands the future of the Carlisle bid should be known by the end of the month.

David Farrell, owner of Stone Eden Nursery, said: “It was good that the Education Secretary visited Carlisle and hopefully this was a positive sign of good news with our bid.”

Members of the group which has drawn up the plans for the Stone Eden primary school pitched the proposals to Department for Education officials in late November.

They have gone through a rigorous application process over the last six months, since first thinking up the plans last May.

It is hoped that the proposed £6m school would be built on farmland beside the children’s nursery at Aglionby, just east of Carlisle.

The money to build the school would come from central government – but the figure does not include the buying of the land.

Proposals include the creation of 14 classrooms, a car park for 180 cars, a gym/hall and various sports pitches and road improvements to the site just off the A69.

North Cumbrian peer Lord Henley is the chairman of the board that would run the new school.

Jan Renou, the regional schools commissioner for the north of England, makes recommendations on whether free school bids should be approved – but the decision still lies with Government ministers.

The school could open as early as September 2017, subject to the plans getting Government approval and a formal planning application.

Stone Eden Nursery employs 70 staff and has 300 children aged under five on its books.

The proposed new school for four to 11 year olds would employ around 50-60 people.

Free schools are funded by central government but independently run by parents, community groups or other organisations.