THE pieces of the puzzle are coming together at a new free school due to open next year as governors have announced the appointment of its founding headteacher.

Experienced teacher Martin Blain has been chosen to lead Harperbury Free School in Radlett when it welcomes its first intake of students in September 2014.

The Cambridge graduate trained as a maths teacher in 1993 and has taught in a wide range of schools including spending two years working in East Africa and is currently deputy headteacher at Immanuel College in Bushey.

Commenting on his new challenge, Mr Blain said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be appointed to lead Harperbury. This is the most exciting educational development in a generation and the governors and I are committed to using the best ideas and technology to create this ground-breaking school for our children.

“I am committed to traditional values of hard work and respect. But schools must be forward looking and need to challenge existing ideas in order to achieve the best and educate young people for the future.”

The 47-year-old, who has also recently been involved in setting up a free school in Finchley, said that as part of his vision for the secondary school he aims to ensure students leave with life skills, learning is personalised to suit each child, and plans to have a long school day so pupils go home feeling “tired but very fulfilled”.

He explained that over the next six months he would recruit a team of “outstanding” teachers, adding: “I am very excited about the future; it is going to be an amazing school. I wish there was 48 hours each day as that is how much time I would like to devote to it.”

It is hoped the school will be situated on the former Harperbury Hospital site and will serve families from Radlett, Shenley, London Colney, Park Street, Bricket Wood and Borehamwood.

Chairman of governors, Clive Glover, said: “In Martin Blain we have recruited someone with a great vision for Harperbury. As we have seen from his previous work at Immanuel and elsewhere he has the imagination and energy to create new ideas and drive them forward into reality.

“We are delighted with this appointment and look forward to his leadership of the school.”

Parents and prospective students will have the chance to meet Mr Blain at the school’s open meetings on September 28, September 30 and October 2. For more information visit www.harperbury.org.uk