Last week's Reading Chronicle carried details of a bid for a new school in east Reading, a bid that takes advantage of the new legislation brought in by the Coalition Government last summer.

This is not the time to get preoccupied about whether the school is a 'free school', an academy or a 'University Technical College'. How the funding is arranged doesn't matter, it's what will be in the school that counts.

I really hope that we can make this work because east Reading wants and needs a school that is able to provide the highest quality education.

It is great to have the support of a world class company such as Microsoft in this venture, as it has enormous knowledge and experience to contribute.

We also have other eye-catching world class partners who we hope to announce in the coming days and weeks.

This is a very exciting time for education in the area, but I know that parents will have questions.

There are still issues within the bid to be resolved and negotiations to be had, but we do intend to go out to the local community shortly so that people can ask questions and input their thoughts and ideas.

I hope that the local community can be patient just a little bit longer. We will hold a series of meetings in the coming weeks so that everybody has the chance to be heard and have their say.

If you would like to attend one of these meetings, please contact my office to register your interest.

I'd like to thank Reading University, Reading College, Reading School, plus Cllrs Mark Ralph (Reading) and Rob Stanton (Wokingham) who have worked very hard to help me to get this off the ground.

I am very impressed by the way the two local education authorities are working together across a range of issues.

I know this hasn't always been the case so long may it continue!

It would be fantastic if this new school could be a catalyst for improvements in education across the area. I have a sneaking suspicion it might.