Two new Croydon free schools, including the borough’s first Hindu faith school, were announced by Prime Minister David Cameron this week.

A primary school run by Hindu charity the Avanti Schools Trust and a secondary school offshoot from a top Sutton grammar were among 49 new Department for Education approvals revealed on Monday.

Both are expected to open in the next three years.

Avanti Schools Trust, which already runs exisiting schools, had its initial application turned down by the DfE last year.

However, its amended bid for a 420-place primary school in Croydon has been accepted. The trust hopes to open in September 2016 and is in talks with Croydon Council and the DfE over a location.

Nitesh Gor, the charity’s chief executive, said: “We are very pleased with the approval. It has been a long time in the pipeline.

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