Plans to open a 1,400-pupil free school have reached the final stages of the approval process.

The Lion Academy Trust is to undergo its last interview with Department for Education officials to determine whether it will be given the green light to open Barclay Secondary Free School.

If successful, the school, which will be on-religious, will open in September 2016.

A final location has not been confirmed, the trust has said it will be in Walthamstow or Leyton.

Earlier this year, the council’s cabinet was told that four more secondary schools could be needed to meet demand over the next eight years.

However, the new school would not be under local authority control, an arrangement critics say removes accountability and takes money away from other schools.

Once through the interview stage, the trust’s proposals are reviewed, with final decision expected by April 2015.

Lion Academy Trust chief executive, Justin James, said: “We’ve said all along that the evidence of demand and need for a new, fully inclusive community school was overwhelming and we are humbled by the stream of parents asking when the new school will open.

“If we’re successful, we recognise how much work there will be to make Barclay Secondary Free School the local secondary of choice – but the team and I are excited about the challenge.”

Lion Academy Trust was supported throughout the application process by charity New Schools Network.

Interested parents can find out more at www.barclaysfs.net.