Corby Community College in Oakley Road closed in July to make way for the newly-built academy at Priors Hall.

Many pupils faced having to travel further every day to get to school but now Northamptonshire County Council has announced it will be providing free transport from Corby and surrounding villages because of its out-of-town location.

School principal Dr Andrew Campbell said: "The transport plan for the school has been established after carefully examining how best to get the students on site.

"I am delighted our students will benefit from the support of police community support officers and Northamptonshire County Council's transport inspectors who will be working closely with the academy and the local community.

"It is also excellent that the county council has welcomed my proposal for academy staff to act as chaperones on some of the bus routes."

Bus passes have been issued to students along with details of the route they will travel to the school and which bus stop they should use to catch the bus from.

Former Corby Community College student Kirsty O'Neil will be starting at the academy in Year 11 in September.

She said: "We were expecting to get a bus pass because it's out of the way and we could walk to the old school.

"We got it about two or three weeks ago and everyone has them, and so with the bus the journey to school should be alright."

Cllr Bob Seery, council member for transport and highways, said: "With about 1,000 students due to attend the academy it was essential that we co-ordinated a plan to address the logistical issues of transporting large numbers of students to the site."

Police community support officers and the council's transport inspectors will be on hand for the first few weeks after the school's opening to help students find the correct bus stop and ease any concerns with the new arrangements.

Corby Business Academy opens for the new term on September 3 on the purpose-bui