Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust is holding public meetings to explain how it will run the new special school in Okehampton.

The trust, which also runs St James Primary School and Okehampton College, is to hold meetings at St James Primary School on November 15 and 16 between 4pm and 6pm.

This is a legal requirement which the trust must undertake as part of its bid to run the special school.

Michael Green, associate executive director of strategic development at the Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust, said: ‘With a free school, by law we have to run what is called a Section 10 consultation and really the purpose of this is to provide people with more information about the school. We have to ask whether the Secretary of State [for Education] should approve the funding agreement.’

The consultation period will run from November 1-18 and following this, a report will be published summarising the outcome of the meeting. It is expected to be published in early January.

The school, which will be named The Promise Cooperative School, will cater for children aged four to 16 with social, emotional and mental health needs, though pupils will also have access to the mainstream facilities of other schools.

Dan Morrow, director of Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust, said: ‘The school aims to fulfil the promise of every individual so that each child can reach their full potential.’

The trust was one of five to bid for the running of the school.

The special school is due to open in 2023 on the Okehampton East Business Park. It will cater for children with special educational needs in a wide catchment around Okehampton.