PLANS to open a new free school in Blackburn Cathedral have been scrapped.

The Christian free school would have provided education for up to 700 pupils from reception age to 16 years old.

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But church bosses have confirmed they no longer have plans to open one and are looking at developing the site into housing for the over-50s.

The news was welcomed by union chiefs who claimed the school, which would offer specialisms in music and maths, would have had a ‘devastating’ impact on others in the area.

The plans for Church House next to the cathedral were announced in March by the Cathedral Canon, Chancellor Dr Ian Stockton, who said they had been looking at the possibility for several years.

He said it would look to develop an ‘exciting model of education’ which would strengthen the cathedral’s music education and its outreach, not only to the town, but to a wider catchment area.

However the Acting Dean of Blackburn and Bishop of Burnley, Rt Rev. Philip North, said the cathedral no longer has any plans to use Church House as a free school.

He said: “We are exploring the possibility of developing that site as housing for over-50s and are actively seeking partners to advance this project which would contribute to the ongoing regeneration of the cathedral quarter of Blackburn and continue its development as a high quality place to live.

“The cathedral is still committed to exploring ways to aid the recruitment of boys and girls to its excellent choirs, and conversations with those in the world of education in the area are continuing as a way of assisting in this broader aim.”

Simon Jones, Lancashire representative for the National Union of Teachers, welcomed the decision after warning the plans would have pushed other schools to the point of closure. “I thought it was unnecessary and potentially disruptive to other schools so it is good news that it is not going ahead,” he said.

“It could have taken pupils and funding from other schools.”

Dave Harling, Blackburn with Darwen’s executive member for schools and education, said: “I think it would have been a diversion from the more important work they need to do within the diocese in schools. They should be focusing on that rather than skimming selective students from other schools in the borough. Their plan would have put more pressure on places and these would have been filled by taking them from existing schools.”