Free schools - Any takers?

[iwastooearlytobeayummymummy]

I've been wondering if there really is 'an appetite' for this Conservative proposal.
My DC are now at senior school and beyond, but I don't think I would have had the energy to take on a project like this,It was hard enough summoning support during the PTA years!
What do other mumsnetters think, especially those of you with many years of school ahead for your children?

[Pronoia]

No thank you.

It's a typical Tory excuse to cut funds "Oh but we don't need to run your schools, you can do it yourselves! Lazy Single MOthers, look at them! They won't even run their own cihld's school!"

[jackstarbright]

This was rather done to death on an earlier thread. But, just to point out that the Tories aren't forcing anyone to start a school. They are just giving the opportunity to people who have identified a local need and want to do something about it. I know this is 'radical stuff' and all that - people actually doing something for themselves, rather than just moaning about how badly the government does things. But don't worry after 13 of a labour government I doubt there will be many takers!!

[Pronoia]

Nobody should HAVE to take over a school. It should be properly run and funded in the first place.

"Thatcher, Thatcher, Milk Snatcher" embodied Conservative policies on public spending in schools, what on Earth would convince us that the NuCon party are devoted to my child's educational achievements?

[muminlondon]

Where will the money come from? What will happen to the school once the original parent movers and shakers have moved on? What will happen if the new school is undersubscribed and fails Ofsted after millions of pounds of start up costs have been squandered? Who would be deciding which new schools qualify, e.g. would a radical fundamentalist group get the OK if enough parents signed a petition?

Too many questions unanswered. And no money if no new taxes.

[atlantis]

I would love someone to set up a 'free' montessori (spelling?) type school in my area, my daughter is SN and can not cope in the mainstream classroom and I can't afford to go private and can't get a place at a SN school.

I think this setting would be perfect for her as she goes to an after school group (free) that learns the montessori way and has really grown in both her ability to learn and her ability to socialise with other ' not SN' (don't want to say normal) children.