KINGS School has defended its plans to relocate to a single site campus.

Last month, the Express revealed that the school – which has a 500-year history in the town – is looking at a number of potential new locations.

But the independent school, based at Cumberland Street and Fence Avenue, has refused to say where the sites being considered are due to ‘commercial sensitivity’.

One option is understood to be the AstraZeneca site at Alderley Park, though King’s has refused to either confirm or deny the move is an option.

Another site rumoured – though not confirmed – to be in contention is the 30-acre Derby Fields site on the Presbury/Macclesfield town border, on which the school has sports and conference facilities.

An extension of the school's Fence Avenue facilities is also being touted as a possible fall-back.

Headteacher Dr Simon Hyde, pictured below, has defended plans to relocate, arguing the schools has to ‘adapt in order to grow’, but insists details of plans cannot be disclosed.

He said: “We are currently looking at a small number of potential future sites for King’s and, at present, we are unable to disclose the location of any of these sites due to the commercial sensitivity of this information.

“We are making good progress but it could take another twelve months before we will be in a position to provide more specific detail.”

Dr Hyde said the relocation will benefit members of the public as well as students.

“The governors and I believe that a new, single-site King’s School will deliver enormous benefits for the wider community, including not just a state of the art educational institution, but new facilities that would be available to the general public,” he added.

“I believe it is right to consider a bright and bold future for our school and for the town – we cannot just dwell in the past.

“Our ‘2020 vision’ to build a new school, with world-class educational facilities, is a bold and brave step.

“Change will never be met with unanimous support and I know that people will have concerns about maintaining our heritage and traditions.”