AIBU to feel that Free Schools are creaming off middle-class families and creating division?

[KeepOnRockinginthefreeworld]

Name change as I've been thinking about this for a while...

We have a Free School in our area. It's generally felt to be successful, has a waiting list, and plans to expand at some point. BUT while it was founded "to create extra spaces", its intake seems to mostly to consist of children poached from the surrounding schools (the remainder are bussed in by parents from miles away). The uniform is entirely bespoke from a private school supplier, so no Tesco items, it's about £300 plus for a full set.

Now, I totally get that Free schools are there for "choice" but my concern is that this seems to be selection-by-stealth: they are trumpetting it as a "naice" school, "better" and more privileged than the local community schools (which are perfectly OK) . The parents who transfer to them tend to be the ones with money for the uniform/aspirational for the "best" for their child, and those children have a much lower level of SEN and pupil premium .....it just seems unfair to me that children in the area whose parents have low income, multiple DC, or aren't pushy don't have the same opportunity within the state sector. Everyone has the right to a good education and the Free Schools just seem like an excuse for middle-class parents to remove themselves from the mix of intake that is in the community while getting subsidised to do so.

Can I ask AIBU by feeling uncomfortable about this segregation? Is this just peculiar to the free school in our area? Are there other free schools near you where the uniform is cheap, they aren't creaming off children from surrounding school, and all children from the area are genuinely welcomed irrespective of ability and income?

[HepsibarCrinkletoes]

More wine indeed.

[nlondondad]

The main discussion about a proposed Free Schhol -a primary - in Islington is here, by the way>

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/1792362-What-do-you-think-of-the-plan-for-a-new-free-School-in-Islington

[nlondondad]

(I think this story from the Tes is relevant. It would seem that parent driven Free Schools, which is what we were told the Free School Idea is all about are actually, now, rare.)

Number of free schools set up by parents in England dwindles

The proportion of new free schools in England being set up by parent groups has fallen to just 5 per cent, an analysis of the latest cohort of state-funded independent schools has shown.

The UK government announced this week that 102 new free schools had been approved to open from 2014, bringing the total number of such schools to 292. But just 5 per cent of the new schools are being set up by parent groups. That figure rises to only 7 per cent if parent groups working in collaboration with community groups are included.

More here:-

www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6336273

[nlondondad]

It seems that the beelvue Place Ltd people, who are promoting the Free School in Islington, have hired a marketing agency.

Must be getting ready for the "consultation"

Here is the link.



brandenvy.co.uk/bellevue-place-education-trust-extends-their-relationship-with-brand-envy/


Anyone had any contact with/ dealing with this company?

[nlondondad]

whoops

beelvue Place Ltd SHOULD read Bellevue Pace Ltd!

[PanicMode]

The reason so few are parent led is down to the amount of hours it takes to get through the whole process - there aren't many people with the time and willingness to dedicate to it. All of us have given up a HUGE amount of (unpaid) time this year - all of us have said never again, despite being massively proud of the achievement to get here - fingers crossed for 4 weeks today when we open!

[nlondondad]

You are not the only person to have had that experience PanicMode. I am sure I saw some press coverage of the establishment of the Eden Free School in Muswell Hill in which the parent group mentioned the time used, and collapse of social life implied...

And have a look at this, based on the experience of the people who set up the Archer Academy.

www.theguardian.com/education/2012/jul/16/free-school-community-involvement

[nlondondad]

A quick question.

Does anyone know, and feel able to say, what the actual typical budget for getting a Free School building is? I mean a ball park for the cost of getting the land plus the cost of building, or refurbing an existing building?

[merrymouse]

Has the government really said no new schools will be built except free schools?

This seems really odd given the huge rise in requirement for school places in many parts of the country.

(However, it fits in with a case that I know of where a proposed secondary school won 'Building Schools for the Future' under labour, lost it under Conservatives, and finally, has obtained Free School Funding).

[nlondondad]

yes it is true. All new schools are to be "Free Schools". So where a local authority has identified a need for a new school they are not allowed to set one up. What they have to do is agree to acquire the land, and pay for the new building and on that basis invite Free School proposers to take it on.

[merrymouse]

What a faff!

[TabithaStephens]

Why is there an increase in demand for schools? It was only a few years ago that many schools were being closed and merged due to pupil numbers being on the decline.

[nlondondad]

If you register with the government sponsored charity, the New Schools Network which helps anyone trying to set up a Free School you get regular emails like this:

"The most recent Education Act requires that where a Local Authority identifies a need for a new school, it should ideally be a Free School or an Academy. This is a big change for how school places are provided across England and many Local Authorities will now be thinking about how to engage with Free School proposers and academy sponsors. NSN is keen to help to connect groups with interested Local Authorities.

We have been made aware that Cambridgeshire, Croydon and Lincolnshire local authorities are now seeking proposals for new primary Academies or Free Schools.

· Cambridgeshire need a 210 place primary. You can find out more details about this project here.

· Croydon need two 630 place primaries and one 420 place primary. You can find out more details about these projects here.

· Lincolnshire need one 210 place primary. You can find out more details about this project here.

Applications must be made directly to the Local Authority.

We understand that these specific opportunities may not be appropriate for your group at this time, but we will be mailing out information concerning other Local Authorities seeking proposals as and when we are made aware of these. The DfE have published guidance relating to this process which can be found here.

Kind regards,

The New Schools Network"

[merrymouse]

Depends where you live. Loads of temporary classrooms in London primaries over last few years because significant number (100's) of children with no place anywhere. Now these children are reaching secondary school age. I think there are also problems in Bristol and Bournemouth.

[PanicMode]

nlondondad - I think each project is assessed on its own merits - as long as each proposer group can prove "value for money". We were concerned as we are in a very affluent corner of the SE, a commuter town, and land prices/buildings for conversion are obviously expensive. The EFA told us that the money available would reflect the area where the school is being opened, and the inability to secure a site is one of the most common reasons that FS proposer groups fail. But I actually don't know what the total cost of the school is - it's a massively complicated deal involving several parties in the area......

[nlondondad]

@tabitha

Basically birthrates fluctuate in a way difficult to predict; also choices as to how many children one has and what age one is when one has them matter.

As also what proportion of the female population are of child bearing age.

I know that Islington had falling school rolls for years, which is why most Islington schools -even tho' a number were closed - have space available to take in more pupils if required. But in some parts of London the problem is getting quite acute.

[nlondondad]

@panicMode

I understand -each case on its merits - mmm I wonder how they work out Value for Money...

[nlondondad]

I think what all this discussion is showing us is that there are several kinds of Free Schools. The big difference is between a Free School set up where there is a shortage of places, where in fact a new school is needed and our (democratically elected) government has determined that it MUST be a Free School. Provided the admission scheme is fair, it will just be a school like any other really, so far as who goes to it. And a Free School set up where there is no shortage, or even a surplus of places and so will be competing directly with existing schools - as in the case of the Islington Free Primary School I keep banging on about...

see

www.localschoolsnetwork.org.uk/2013/06/the-new-islington-free-school/

[nlondondad]

There is also the big difference between a Free School set up by a group of parents, in response to a perceived need, a Free School set up by a different sort of group like one of the Academy chains coming into exostence, and a Free School set up by a chain backed by a For Profit company....

[nlondondad]

Anyone have any experience of the stautory consultation that has to be carried out by a Free School proposer?

[nlondondad]

Oops!for "stautory' read 'statutory'

[nlondondad]

So thats a "no" then?

[Aethelfleda]

Sounds like it nlondondad!

[PanicMode]

Yes, we obviously had to do one nlondondad.....(Am on holiday so haven't looked at MN for a few days, but suffering from insomnia so just browsing now!). Any particular questions about it?! Not sure when I will check back (but I will eventually!)

[olidusUrsus]

Am quite shocked by the view that the reason middle class parents invest in their children's education more than working class parents is because they "want it more" and not because they actually have access to the money means to do so