Free School (England) Information
A Free School is a school in England funded by the tax-payer,[1] non-selective[1] and free to attend but not controlled by local authorities.[2] The concept of free schools is based upon a similar model found in Sweden as well as US charter schools.[3]
Free schools are part of changes by the Conservative-Liberal coalition following the 2010 general election whereby it will be possible for parents, teachers, charities and businesses[4] to set up their own school. Free schools are an extension of the existing Academies Programme.[5] The Academies Act 2010 authorises the creation of free schools and allows all existing state schools to become academy schools. The first 24 free schools opened in autumn 2011.[6]
Free schools will be able to set their own admissions policies. To set up a free school, groups apply to the Department for Education.[4] Conservative Education Secretary Michael Gove said he had ruled out religious fundamentalist groups being able to set up free schools.[4] (Per student) funding is on an equivalent basis with other locally controlled (state maintained) schools. Free schools have latitude for developing a broad and balanced curriculum. They are still subject to Ofsted inspections and are expected to comply with standard performance measures.[5]
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Historical background and precedents
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Similar models in other countries
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Policy creation and implementation
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Reaction
Supporters of the scheme such as the Conservative Party claim that the scheme would "create more local competition and drive-up standards".[7] Supporters also feel that it will allow parents to have more choice in the type of education their child receives, much like parents who send their children to independent schools do. Many of the first 16 schools have a curriculum or ethos which is currently exclusively (or almost exclusively) available in independent schools at present. Supporters also argue that insisting that all schools are the same implies there is only one 'correct' way to educate children. Rather, they believe that there are many effective methods of education, from which parents should be able to choose using their knowledge of their child.
Critics have argued that the scheme will only benefit middle class parents with the time to dedicate to setting up a school and that the scheme will divert money away from existing schools; and that if academy status becomes a symbol of success, schools remaining under local education authority control will be seen as second best.[5] The Daily Telegraph describes the National Union of Teachers (NUT) warning that the policy would "fuel social segregation and undermine local democracy".[7] NUT also say that free schools are neither wanted nor needed based on a survey of a thousand parents.[8]
Paul Carter, a Conservative Councillor, has stated that under present funding arrangements: "The more academies and free schools you operate, under the current academy funding arrangements, the less maintained schools would get."[9]
Peter Wilby, writing in The Guardian, suggests that such schools will be run by private companies rather than parents, teachers and voluntary groups.[10]
A 2010 paper by Rebecca Allen reviewed available research on the Swedish model on which the scheme is based.[11] It concluded that "[t]he econometric evidence on the impact of the reforms suggests that, so far, Swedish pupils do not appear to be harmed by the competition from private schools, but the new schools have not yet transformed educational attainment in Sweden."[12]
Free schools list
In the autumn of 2010, Education Secretary Michael Gove announced that 16 proposals for free schools had been given a green light by the Government and were expected to open in September 2011.[13] Five of the schools will be faith schools: two Jewish, one Evangelical Anglican, one Hindu and one Sikh.[14] The first 16 schools were:
- ARK Conway Primary Academy, Hammersmith and Fulham
- Bedford and Kempston Free School, Bedford
- The Childcare Company, Slough
- Discovery New School, Crawley, West Sussex[15]
- The Free School Norwich, Norfolk
- Eden Primary School, Haringey, North London (Jewish faith school)
- King’s Science Academy, Bradford
- Leicester Krishna-Avanti Primary School, Leicester (Hindu faith school)
- Mill Hill Jewish Primary School, Barnet (Jewish faith school)
- Nishkam Free School, Birmingham (Nishkam Education Trust, Sikh faith school)
- North Westminster Free School, Westminster
- Priors Marston and Priors Hardwick School, Warwickshire
- Rivendale Free School, Hammersmith and Fulham
- St. Luke’s School, Camden (Christian (Anglican) faith school)
- Stour Valley Community School, Suffolk
- West London Free School, Ealing or Hammersmith and Fulham, (writer Toby Young pioneer, traditional subjects)[6][16]
Other free schools have subsequently been approved including Bristol Free School,[17][18] which will open in September 2011 with a year 7 intake.
In August 2011, the 24 free schools accepted for opening in autumn 2011 was announced.[6] In addition to the first 16 schools, these include:[19]
- Aldborough E-ACT free school, Redbridge
- All Saints Junior School, Reading
- ARK Atwood Primary Academy, Westminster
- Batley Grammar, Kirklees (long-established independent school[6])
- Bristol Free School, Bristol
- Canary Wharf College, London
- Langley Hall Primary Academy, Slough
- Maharishi School, Lancashire (in the tradition of the Beatles' guru and yoga[6])
- Moorlands School, Luton, Bedfordshire
- Rainbow School, Bradford
- Sandbach School, Cheshire
- Woodpecker Hall Primary Academy, Enfield
See also
References
- ^ a b Tuck, Vicky (2010-04-26). "Want to open a Tory 'free school'? Take a leaf out of the Victorians' book". London: Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/7636404/Want-to-open-a-Tory-free-school-Take-a-leaf-out-of-the-Victorians-book.html. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
- ^ Harrison, Angela (2010-05-26). "What will make a school 'free'?". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/10138787.stm. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
- ^ Tory free schools: who’s going to pay for them?, The First Post, 26 may 2010
- ^ a b c Anger as Michael Gove refuses to set a cap on pay for academy headteachers, Daily Mail, 27 May 2010
- ^ a b c Q&A: Academies and free schools, BBC News, 22 July 2010
- ^ a b c d e Garner, Richard (28 August 2011). "First group of 24 'free schools' to open next month". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/first-group-of-24-free-schools-to-open-next-month-2345152.html.
- ^ a b Paton, Graeme (2010-03-23). "Teachers attack Tory 'free school' plans". London: Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/7505255/Teachers-attack-Tory-free-school-plans.html. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
- ^ Harrison, Angela (3 January 2011). "Free schools 'not wanted' say teachers". BBC News Online. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12099245.
- ^ Francis Gilbert (2010-04-27). "Tory free schools will spread inequality". Comment is free (London: Guardian). http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/apr/27/tory-free-schools-inequality. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
- ^ Peter Wilby (2010-05-25). "Private companies will run 'free schools'". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/may/25/free-schools-private-companies. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
- ^ "Doubts cast over Swedish-style free schools". BBC News Online. 22 June 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10376457.
- ^ Allen, Rebecca (Summer 2010). "Replicating Swedish ‘free school’ reforms in England". Research in Public Policy. http://www.bris.ac.uk/cmpo/publications/bulletin/summer10/swedishfreeschools.pdf.
- ^ http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/f/written%20ministerial%20statement%20relating%20to%20new%20free%20school%20proposals.pdf
- ^ "First 16 'free schools' details set out". BBC News Online. 6 September 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11197827.
- ^ "A small Montessori primary school, West Sussex". Discovery Free School, Crawley. 2011. http://www.discoverynewschool.org/#. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ^ Toby Young's battle to set up a new school, BBC Newsnight, 8 December 2009
- ^ "Bristol parents' free school plan clears first hurdle after being given approval". Bristol Evening Post. 8 November 2010. http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Parents-free-school-plan-clears-hurdle/story-11309727-detail/story.html. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ "Final approval for Bristol Free School". BBC News. 16 May 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13409193. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ Garner, Richard (01 Sep 2011). "YOU SAY YOU WANT A REVOLUTION...". The Independent: p. 46.
External links
- Free Schools at the website of the Department for Education
- Swedish model of 'free schools', BBC News, 20 November 2007
Categories: Education in England | School types | State schools in the United Kingdom
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