Somerset's smallest city will be getting a new specialist school – but the county council won't divulge precisely where it will be built.

Somerset County Council successfully applied to funding from the Department for Education (DfE) to build a new free school in Wells – one of 33 new free schools which will be opening across the UK.

The new school will provide specialist education for pupils in and around the city with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those with mental health issues.

However, the council has not divulged exactly where the new school will be built in the city, or which multi-academy trust will end up running it.

Free schools are new state schools, which receive their funding directly from the DfE rather than via the local authority.

This differs slightly from academies, which receive their funding in the same manner but comprise "converter schools" (i.e. schools which were formerly controlled directly by the county council).

Councillor Tessa Munt, executive member for children and families – and division member for Wells – said: "We are committed to supporting our children with additional needs, and a new school in Wells will mean children in the eastern part of Somerset will get the support they need without having to travel as far as they do now.

"We welcome the additional investment and the government's aspiration for it to be easier for children to get the support they need locally.

"As well as more school places, most importantly this specialist school means students will get the extra help they need to thrive in their education."

The new school will provide up to 64 places for children ages between nine and 16, drawn from Cheddar, Frome, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Street, Wells and the surrounding villages.

The new school is expected to be up and running by 2027 – but at this stage the council has not specified its location or which multi-academy trust will end up responsible for the school.

A spokesman said: "We are still considering options for the location and are not able to share this currently."

Mendip District Council's Local Plan Part I – which was ratified in 2014 – includes an allocation for a new primary school between the A371 Portway and Wookey Hole Road, as part of a wider housing development.

A spokesman said: "Secondary school capacity can be extended with appropriate development contributions from new development as required.

"The capacity of primary level education to accommodate future growth is limited and the county council has indicated that a new seven-class primary school would be necessary.

"Given the growth on the western fringe of the city and the lack of provision there, the land allocated includes a requirement to provide a site to accommodate this need, which can be developed in response to the projected need using development contribution and education authority funding.

"A school on the southern edge of this area would be well-placed to serve new, existing and longer-term residential development on this fringe of the city."