A college held an open day about its plans to become a free school.

Croydon Metropolitan College, in South End, held the day which was attended by a number of parents, students, councillors and MPs.

If the application to the Government is approved, it will become a free school in 2014 Gavin Barwell, MP for Croydon Central, attended the event and said free schools were necessary for the development of the younger generations.

A spokesman for the school said: "Croydon Metropolitan College has exceptional academic standards and are to embark on a wide variety of extra-curricular programmes.

"The school has particular strength in Mathematics, English and the Sciences along with outstanding success at GCSE and A level.

"This success would be continued through excellent teaching in small class sizes where every pupil will be known, underpinned by pastoral care and outstanding standards of behaviour."