TWO new free schools are being proposed for Haringey as voluntary groups look to take advantage of government legislation.

A group of parents, teachers and business leaders have teamed up in a bid to open the Academy of Entrepreneurial and Sporting Excellence in Tottenham in September next year.

The group feel that children from the area are discriminated against in later life because of the reputation of Haringey's schools, and want to equip children with business skills.

Lawyer Stephanie Pinnock, who is leading the bid, said: “Having to attend underperforming schools would have a permanent detrimental effect on our children's futures.

“There are approximately 4,500 Haringey schoolchildren who are due to start secondary school next year – but due to the fact that many Haringey schools are performing so badly, around half of these children have apparently chosen schools outside the borough.

“As the system does not select by ability, this could mean that a straight 'A' student could be sent to a very poorly performing school and this will affect the college that child is able to get into and also the University that child will have access to.”

The group were denied permission to set up the school this year at a site in Bruce Grove by Haringey Council, and are currently looking for a new building to house the school.

The proposal would see only 450 students enrol, and teachers would give them the opportunity to take GCSE exams in Year 9, with A Levels available in Year 11.

Results at Haringey's secondary schools have improved in recent years, although three of the borough's schools failed to meet the Government's new benchmark of five or more GCSEs at grade A* to C, including maths and English, in January.

Ms Pinnock added that the group would be open to teaching primary school children as well if there was sufficient demand in the borough.

Meanwhile, another group is calling on parents to prove there is demand for a new primary school in Haringey as it searches five London boroughs for a site, also to open next year.

The Constable Educational Trust currently runs The Moat School in Fulham which caters for children with dyslexia or other special needs.

But the trust want to open a mainstream school, while still focussing on early intervention for children who are identified as having learning difficulties.

Chairman Richard Simmons said: “I would really encourage anyone who has a child who will be aged four between September 1, 2011, and August 31, 2012, and who is interested in increasing the options for their child to register.

“We have a huge amount of experience in opening and running a highly successful school and we are convinced that we can use that experience to enhance the educational choices on offer in Haringey.”

There are 2,381 places in Haringey’s primary schools for this September, but an increasing population is putting pressure on the borough's facilities.

Plans for the schools must be submitted to the Department for Education by the start of June.

Free schools are schools run by groups of parents, teachers, charities, trusts, religious and voluntary groups.

They will be set up as academies and be funded directly by the Government.

The idea was a key plank of the Conservatives’ manifesto during the build-up to the General Election, but academies have been criticised for being expensive and diverting funding from existing schools.