Mystery still surrounds the plans for a new secondary school in Maple Cross because a planning application has not been submitted yet.

When The Reach Free School opened in 2013, it was expected to be based at its temporary site in Tolpits Lane for three years.

In 2014, a section of land used by Woodoaks Farm was chosen as a permanent site for the new school.

But two years on, an official planning application has not been submitted for the new school.

Cllr Roger Seabourne, representative for Penn and Mill End at Three Rivers District, said school leaders had looked at whether a site in neighbouring Hillingdon would be available.

He said: “We were all told the plans were going to be submitted in January last year.

“Residents living near the proposed site still have the uncertainty hanging over them. Even if it is bad news, at least they know what the bad news will be.

“One of the biggest concerns has been where the access to the new school would be. But they do not know where that will be yet.

“The proposals will get a lot of objections from people living along Long Lane and Uxbridge Road, but they would be able to talk to people and deal with them.”

The Watford Observer understands a pre-application has been submitted to Three Rivers District Council for the allocated site in Maple Cross but the school is yet to submit a formal planning application.

Cllr Mark Watkin, Liberal Democrat spokesman for education at Hertfordshire County Council, said: "I think it is disappointing because it means there is another year for parents who want their children to be educated in Mill End facing tricky routes to school every day.

"But the temporary building is good and it is expanding to take more pupils in."

Hertfordshire County Council says the delay will not increase the pressure on school places in south west Hertfordshire.

Instead, the authority says the school will continue to take in the planned number of children to help meet the projected shortfall of places in Rickmansworth, Mill End and Maple Cross.

In its first Ofsted report since July, the school was rated as Good.

The report by Ofsted said: “The headteacher leads with calm authority and is ably supported by his senior team.

“Together they have ensured the collective vision of ‘achievement, community and enjoyment’ is central to the work of the school.

A free school is a school set up by an organisation or a group of individuals which is not under Hertfordshire County Council control but it is funded by the government.

The Reach Free School has refused to answer questions about the future school plans.