Cabinet agreed today (21 May 2026) to provide the funding to the school which will be run on behalf of the county council by the Flying High Partnership in Linton, South Derbyshire.
The new school – which will be called the Drakelow Park Flying High Academy – is due to open in September 2026 and has been built for the council by the housing developers on Dracan Village.
The funding will be used to equip the school with everything needed to support children’s education when the school opens – including desks, chairs and sports equipment, classroom resources, devices and interactive teaching boards, amongst other essentials.
Councillor Simon Mabbott, Cabinet Member for SEND and Education, said:
“We’re delighted to have been able to secure a multi-million-pound school for South Derbyshire through the use of Section 106 agreements.
“It means we have added a cutting-edge new facility to our property portfolio which has not cost the authority any money to build but which will provide a safe, nurturing place for children to learn and thrive as the community grows.”
Provided by Countryside Homes and built by Clegg Construction, the school on Marley Way, aims to provide spaces over the next 7 years for the children of families who live on the 2,200 home Dracan development.
Initially it will open in September 2026 to reception and nursery age children and will continue to admit one class a year as pupils move through the year groups and will eventually accommodate a total of 420 students up to year 6.
Councillor Mabbott added:
“By phasing the intake of pupils this will help to future proof school places and ensure there are enough for children in the local area, while also not having an adverse effect on nearby schools which children currently attend.”
Our partner Concertus Design and Property Consultants Ltd acted as client advisor on the project.
The school building is fully electrically sourced, with air source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels. It also boasts a 2-storey hall which will be available for community use as well as an all-weather sports pitch.
Paul Goodman, Deputy CEO for the Flying High Partnership said:
“Thank you to Derbyshire County Council for securing and providing this essential set-up funding, enabling the school to be launched with the latest technology and resources. This will also ensure we can create an environment that will ensure every child feels safe, valued and supported to thrive in their learning.”
The Flying High Partnership is a multi-academy trust consistently ranked in the top 5 performing primary-only trusts in the country. In the East Midlands, it holds the distinction of being the highest performing primary trust, consistently achieving results for children that surpass national benchmarks across all key indicators.
The primary-only partnership has 38 schools across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and has achieved an impressive 100% record in maintained or improved Ofsted outcomes in all of its schools.