As the number of academy conversions in the region snowball, Free Schools, the Government’s other headline policy appear to have failed to make much impact. There are currently only three applications approved to pre-opening stage in the North East - Grindon Hall, Sunderland http://www.grindonhall.com (currently an Independent school), Cramlington Village Primary School , Northumberland http://villageprimary.org and BOSS2, a secondary school in Ingleby Barwick, Stockton http://www.inglebybo2ss.co.uk/. However despite the low take up, the policy has provoked much controversy in the local media and within local communities.
It was the proposed Free School in the Ingelby Barwick area of Stockton that prompted heated debate at the SCHOOLS NorthEast lunch with Stockton South MP, James Wharton last Friday. Mr Wharton, who has been a strong advocate of the new school, faced criticism from local Head Teachers concerned about the effect on the schools currently serving this area and the knock on implications for schools nearby. Heads questioned the wisdom of opening an additional school in an area where parents already had a choice of high performing schools, and at a time when there are surplus places in the system and a difficult economic situation. The Conservative Member of Parliament remained robust in his support of the proposals.
Despite the slow start there are signs that interest in Free Schools in the region is growing. The next round of approved applications will be announced in by the DfE in May and a number of groups in the region are waiting on news as to whether their bid has been successful.
In Newcastle, plans by Newcastle College’s parent company, NCG, to open a free school in the city’s West End (http://ncgrp.co.uk/newsitem.aspx?newsid=458) have been met with a backlash from local schools and Council leaders worried about the impact of the proposed additional places and upset about the wording of marketing materials sent to parents. Other applications awaiting approval include Jesmond Parish Church’s plans for a 600 place all through school in the Jesmond area of Newcastle (http://www.claytonacademy.org.uk) and a bid for a secondary free school in Durham targeting the villages to the south and east of the City (http://www.durhamfreeschool.org).
The policy also divides opinion at a national level. This week, educationalist Sir Michael Barber took to Twitter to welcome Free Schools saying; “Free Schools are unlocking the creativity of school leaders and teachers...won't all be perfect but wish we'd done it years ago”. And former Labour Education Minister, Lord Adonis called on his party to support Free Schools arguing that they could be a 'powerful engine of equality and social mobility'. Although it would appear that his calls have fallen on deaf ears as Shadow Education Minister, Stephen Twigg yesterday challenged the Government’s approach by stating that “they should tackle the growing crisis in primary school places rather than building more free schools”.
Whatever your views on Free Schools we want to hear them. Are Free Schools a catalyst for innovation or do they undermine existing provision? What should the criteria be for approving a Free School bid? Do you think Free Schools will become a significant feature of the North East’s education landscape. Let us know of any bids you have heard about in your area email think@schoolsnortheast.com