The Government has announced that 24 Free Schools are aiming to open this September. Free Schools are funded by the Government, but are independent of local authority control. They are run by teachers and are able to set their own rules over the length of the school day, the curriculum, and how they spend their money. They are non-profit-making and, the Government states, must plough funds back into improving education for pupils.

The new schools, which are set up by teachers, charities, education experts and parents, will be spread throughout the country and will open at different times during September. Of the 24, 17 are primary schools, five are secondary schools and two are ‘all-age’ schools.

The Free Schools programme, one of the Conservatives’ high-profile policies in the lead-up to the last general election, has been criticised by the teaching unions for benefiting the ‘motivated middle-class’ and redirecting valuable resources away from local schools.

However, in an interview with The Times, in advance of the opening of his West London Free School, British journalist Toby Young countered these claims. Mr Young told the newspaper, “It is condescending to assume that a rigorous education appeals only to middle-class parents. The people who are biting my arms off to come here are the people from the local council estates who don’t have  anywhere else to send their children.”

Education Secretary Michael Gove said, “By freeing up teachers and trusting local communities to decide what is best, our reforms will help to raise standards for children in  all schools.”

Like other state-funded schools, Free Schools will be inspected by Ofsted, will have their exam and test results published and will have to teach a broad curriculum. Action will be taken if results slip or teaching isn’t up to scratch. Free Schools also have to abide by the same rules for pupil admissions as other schools.