A NEW pupil referral unit for children who have been excluded or need intensive support could be set up in Oxfordshire under the Government’s Free School drive.

The educational consultant behind the plans said the Bicester school would cater for pupils who need intensive support outside mainstream schools.

No site has been named for the unit but Mr Kennell, former deputy head of Gillots School in Henley, said it has the backing of Oxfordshire County Council.

If approved by the Department of Education, the 60-place school for excluded 11- to 16-year-olds could open in September next year.

Mr Kennell, director of Kennell Freelance Education Services Ltd, said it would increase the number of school places for expelled pupils in the county by 50 per cent.

Currently, the only pupil referral unit in Oxfordshire is Meadowbrook College in Marston, which has 130 pupils aged five to 16.

The most recent figures show 80 pupils were expelled from schools across the county in 2008/09, with 4,400 temporary exclusions.

Many pupils end up moving between schools, or schools have to buy in specialist help because of the squeeze on Meadowbrook’s places.

Mr Kennell said: “We will be trying to create an educational provision that suits these children more.

“We have had discussions with the relevant people in the local authority and they are supporting the application, which is great.”

Oxfordshire County Council has declined to comment, but Mr Kennell said the school could use council land.

He said: “We want to offer some transformative learning experiences that will change young people’s thinking about the way they see the world, and the way the world works.

“We will not be dumbing down the curriculum, and saying kids cannot cope with the same level of understanding.”

Proposals will be submitted this month. If accepted, the as- yet un-named school would take 15 pupils in its first year.

Other free school plans submitted include a bid for a new 800-pupils secondary school in Harwell and a free school at the redevelopment of the former US airforce base at Upper Heyford near Bicester.

lsloan@oxfordmail.co.uk