The funding agreements for the 24 schools aiming to open in September 2011 have now been agreed and signed by the Department for Education.
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 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".
These new, state-funded schools – set up by teachers, charities, education experts and parents – will be spread throughout the country and will open at different times during the month of 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 benefitting the ‘motivated middle-class’ and redirecting valuable resources away from local schools.
Speaking about Free Schools, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said, “It is shameful that at a time of huge cuts the Government is squandering public money on a few ‘trophy schools’. It should be concentrating on supporting existing state schools which educate the overwhelming majority of pupils, not wasting scarce resources on a few schools which only a tiny minority of pupils will benefit from.”
However in an interview with The Times yesterday, in advance of the opening of his West London Free School, 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. If you look at the people who apply they are by no exclusively means middle class.”
“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 if teaching isn’t up to scratch. Free Schools also have to abide by the same rules for pupil admissions as other schools.
The full list of 24 schools opening in September 2011:
ALDBOROUGH E-ACT FREE SCHOOL Redbridge
ALL SAINTS JUNIOR SCHOOL Reading
ARK CONWAY PRIMARY ACADEMY Hammersmith & Fulham
ARK ATWOOD PRIMARY ACADEMY Westminster
BATLEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL Kirklees
BRADFORD SCIENCE ACADEMY Bradford
BRISTOL FREE SCHOOL Bristol
CANARY WHARF COLLEGE Tower Hamlets
DISCOVERY NEW SCHOOL West Sussex
EDEN PRIMARY SCHOOL Haringey
ETZ CHAIM PRIMARY SCHOOL Barnet
THE FREE SCHOOL, NORWICH Norfolk
KRISHNA-AVANTI PRIMARY SCHOOL Leicester City
LANGLEY HALL PRIMARY ACADEMY Slough
MAHARISHI SCHOOL Lancashire
MOORLANDS SCHOOL Luton
NISHKAM FREE SCHOOL Birmingham
PRIORS FREE SCHOOL Warwickshire
RAINBOW FREE SCHOOL Bradford
SANDBACH SCHOOL Cheshire East
ST LUKE’S CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL Camden
STOUR VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL Suffolk
WEST LONDON FREE SCHOOL Hammersmith & Fulham
WOODPECKER HALL PRIMARY ACADEMY Enfield
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