FAMILIES have been applying in their hundreds for places at Birmingham’s first free school.

Building work is now underway to transform two derelict nightclubs on Soho Road, Handsworth, into the new Nishkam Primary School.

The school, which opens in September, will become the first Sikh ethos, multi-faith school in the Midlands, and has been dubbed a “flagship free school” by Education Secretary Michael Gove.

The free schools model, which has been championed by the Government, allows groups of parents and teachers to form schools away from local authority control.

School governor, Prof Upkar Singh Pardesi OBE, said the school had been “inundated” with applications for the 180 places available from September.

He said: “The response from the community has been tremendous and we are 50 per cent full.

“The school has to be demand-led, otherwise it would be a white elephant. Our business plan was based around the idea that parents wanted a school like ours and the interest we have had proves this. We don’t want to make this a mechanical place obsessed with league tables, we want to instil a lifelong passion for learning with inspirational teachers.”

Free schools are able to set pay and conditions for staff, set their own curriculum and change the length of terms and school days.

The Nishkam School will welcome children from all faiths, and follow an “enhanced version” of the National Curriculum with the help of visiting experts in music, art, business and technology.

Long-term plans include a new secondary school, and plans are being submitted to the Department for Education in time for the school to open in September next year.

And while the free school model has come under fire by some for causing segregation, principal designate Ranjit Singh Dhanda said “misconception” was the biggest reason for opposition.

He said: “There were mumblings at first, but a lot of criticism was more about a political gripe against the Government than criticising the idea of a free school. We want to celebrate diversity.”