Tiny free schools will be disaster (London Liberal Democrats)

London Liberal Democrats <info@libdems4london.org.uk>

Tiny free schools will be disaster

November 26, 2011 1:46 PM
Originally published by Twickenham & Richmond Liberal Democrats

• [Nov 25]: RICHMOND Council's plan to meet the need for extra secondary school places in the borough by encouraging the establishment of 2 or 3 tiny new 'free' schools will be an educational disaster, according to the Liberal Democrat opposition. Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Malcolm Eady said:

"Richmond's Tory administration is planning to meet the extra demand for secondary school places by expanding Christ's School and then hoping that two or more free schools will be set up. Because of the lack of suitable sites, it expects these free schools to be very small, with only two forms of entry. There is a strong chance these will be an education disaster. To provide a well balanced wide curriculum, within the standard funding formula, for expensive facilities such as science labs, design and technology departments, drama and sports facilities, you require an optimum school size of at least 5 forms of entry.

Free schools can only be set up if there is a clear demand for places. By not expanding our other 4 community schools, this creates a shortage, which will allow the free schools to be set up. By using its money ( £25m) and land resources for sixth forms instead of adding more 11 to 16 places at the borough's schools, the Council runs a high risk that the only secondary school places on offer to some children will be at very small, curriculum constrained, free schools. These plans are irresponsible. They are political dogma over existing best practice."

• Background note: A report at Monday's Education and Children's Services Overview And Scrutiny Committee gives a detailed breakdown of how the administration plans to deal with the rise in demand for secondary school places. The demand has been made worse by the administration's desire for post-16 education in the schools. The 3 academies will have to reduce their intake to accommodate post-16 students (100 places per year in total ). The five community schools have decided not to reduce their intake, and so the Council has had to promise to spend at least £25m to provide new post-16 accommodation.

A key part of the Council's strategy in the short term is to encourage free schools to be set up in the borough. The O & S report states:- "There are three proposals in development for free schools to be established within the borough in September 2013 and each would include secondary-phase provision. The Secretary of State recently stated that he would like to see free schools established in London "in areas such as Kingston, Sutton and Richmond, where there is said to be a shortage of places" and, if all three were to be approved, 150 additional places would be provided. The forecasts in Appendix 1 assume that two of the proposals will be approved and that the schools will be popular with local parents."

Cllr Hodgins stated in August: "The council is also committed to working with suitable partners who wish to set up free schools and will continue to work to ensure a diversity of high quality provision within the borough." (Richmond and Twickenham Times)