MOBILE classrooms that will house the first cohort of Swan School pupils are set to be approved after a surge of public support.

The temporary site for the new Oxford secondary school, which is due to open in September, is expected to get planning permission at an Oxford City Council meeting on Wednesday.

Despite huge controversy over the permanent site for the free school, at the Harlow Centre in Marston, the temporary base at The Cherwell School's South Site playing fields has prompted no public objections.

About 60 comments have been left on the application by residents, many from parents concerned about their children getting a secondary school place, and all spoke in favour.

Jericho resident Senia Paseta commented on the application, explaining how her son did not get any of his preferred secondary schools and had to be placed in Eynsham.

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Dr Paseta wrote: "He was separated from his friends and compelled to travel outside Oxford to attend school.

"Many families have been in this situation and this is why it is imperative that new school places must be made available.

"It would be wrong and unfair if Swan was not allowed to open next year and would cause significant stress for many children and their parents.

"I urge you to support this planning application and to put an end to the inequity in the allocation of secondary school places in Oxford."

The planning application was submitted in December by the River Learning Trust, which runs The Cherwell and will also run the 1,260-pupil Swan School.

It proposes two two-storey temporary buildings on land next to Cherwell's playing fields, in Marston Ferry Road.

The location is just down the road from where the permanent site will be, and permission is sought to keep the temporary buildings there for a maximum of two academic years until the actual building is ready.

The permanent site, which gained planning permission in October despite fears about congestion and site access, will not be ready in time for September.

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However, a shortage in secondary school places in Oxford means that the Swan School's initial 120-pupil intake is essential to meeting demand, so must still open in time.

According to a map submitted alongside the application, 17 different locations were investigated for a temporary site, some as far-flung as Cumnor.

Noting many were too far out, the planning application said: "This was not only potentially challenging for pupils in terms of travelling to the school it also was undermining of our intention to build a school community committed to sustainable transport."

Thames Water warned in its response that the temporary site could lead to sewage flooding, but did not object and said network reinforcement works would prevent this.

City council planning officers have advised councillors to approve the plans at a meeting on Wednesday, which will take place at the Town Hall from 6pm.