A surprise bidder has joined the race to run a new primary school due to open in September 2012.

Lilac Sky Schools, an Essex-based company founded in 2009, will compete with the Surbiton Education Health Trust (SEHT) to run the school on the Surbiton Hospital site.

Founder Trevor Averre-Beeson has been head of three London schools brought out of special measures, including Islington Green School which Tony Blair rejected for his children.

He said the school, which would be the first of nine academies Lilac Sky has government permission to run, would not have any academic or faith-based entry criteria.

David Ford, currently head of East Sheen Primary School, would be appointed executive head, while another person yet to be named would run the school on a daily basis.

SEHT, made up of Kingston Council, NHS Kingston, South West London Health Partnerships and Your Health Care, wants to create a trust school.

A six-week period for people to submit their views started today, Friday, June 3, with representations sent to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator, which will make the final decision.

Both organisations will present their plans and take questions at a public meeting at Dysart School, Ewell Road, on Tuesday, June 14, with a Friday, July 15 deadline for all comments.

See kingston.gov.uk/primary_expansion for details.