Plans for a specialist science, technology and engineering academy, which had been due to open in South Norwood in September, have collapsed.

STEM Academy Trust had been set to open the sixth-form college at the former South Norwood police station in Oliver Grove, but today said it was "unable to commit the level of resource required".

The school had already secured funding from the Department for Education and its headteacher Adrian Miller, who had already left his previous job to take up the post, told the Croydon Guardian three weeks ago he was confident it would open on time.

The decision to scrap the plans appears to have come suddenly. Only last month the trust's founders were promoting an open day, due to be held at Fairfield Halls next week.

Tony Sewell, chair of governors for the school, said in a statement this afternoon: "We have taken the decision not to continue with our proposal to open STEM Academy Croydon Gateway, our planned 16-19 academy for Croydon.

"This has been a very difficult decision for the Trust to make.  However, setting up a free school is a major undertaking and at this present time we feel that we are unable to commit the level of resource required to successfully launch a new academy whilst also fully supporting STEM Academy Tech City, our existing 16-19 academy in Islington.

"We would like to thank everyone who has supported our proposal for an academy in Croydon. We remain committed to STEM Academy Tech City and to providing a specialist STEM education to our existing student cohort.”

Mr Miller, who is now jobless, was told of the decision yesterday. 

Speaking today, he said: "It is obviously very disappointing from my perspective and for the plans. I am as disappointed and frustrated as anyone, but that is a decision that the trust has made. 

"It all seems a bit sudden and I am left trying to find another role."

He added: "I'm just glad I haven't sold my house yet."

Mr Miller, who has sat on engineering committees advising the Government, left his role as vice-principal at Kimberly STEM College in Bedfordshire at the start of the year.

He will be paid by the Department for Education until September.

STEM Academy is the second free school planned for Croydon to be scrapped at a late stage in the past year. 

Advance School, a primary school founded by a former Wandsworth councillor, had been scheduled to open in September last year.

Those plans were withdrawn despite its founders receiving more than £82,000 of Government funding.