Proposed "Free School" in Richmond

[Manola123]

Have you heard that there is a group of parents and teachers who would like to set up a new school to address the shortage of school places in Richmond? I think it's a great idea. They need evidence of local support for the application to be made in June. If any interested parents want to have a look at what type of school it is you can go to their website www.richmondfreeschool.org.uk

You should probably post on the richmond "Local" part of mnet too, to get feedback.

www.richmondfreeschool.org.uk

Interesting!

Admissions criteria?

Ok I'll bite.

OP what is your interest in this project?

What is the admissions criteria?

What do you mean by religious studies being important? Is it just the teaching about them from a sociological and historical perspective or indoctrination? Are you secular or not?

Where in the borough are you thinking about for location?

Found the facebook group about this. I see the school is for SW14 so although in the borough not in Richmond.

On the group page I read this:

"In a recent public meeting about the Richmond Park academy, a representative of the Academies Enterprise Trust, defined an 'under-performing teacher' as one who was rated as below 'satisfactory' on the ofsted scale (1- Excellent, 2-Good, 3-Satisfactory, 4-Inadequate). Unless and until those running our schools require all teachers to be 'excellent' and see all other grades as differing degrees of under-performance, there is little chance of Richmond being able to offer its state school pupils the chance of maximising their potential."

And because of that nonsense statement I'm probably out. Which is a shame because I liked some aspects but suggesting all teachers can be "excellent" is just unreasonable. Like suggesting all students will be A* standard. You would want everyone to aim for that achievement but if everyone got that grade the whole system would become meaningless. I also find using the Ofsted judgement of excellence somewhat at odds with the Nexus ideology.

Proposed location?
Proposed support for children with additional needs?
Admissions criteria?

Proposed location, old post office site twickenhan!!! They need people to go on to their site to register interest asap

Katie - personally it would take more than that to make me lose interest. Ideally all teachers would be 'good' or 'excellent' or trying to become this way. I don't think it's so much to ask or unrealistic that we accept only the very best candidates. IMO the best independent schools have 'excellent' teachers. Most teachers in my son's state school simply wouldn't be accepted by the good independent schools (the few I know well and have experience of at any rate) I fear.

Looks interesting. But I would want to know what the entrance criteria is before I waste my time looking at a school who doesn't like my postcode (which is in the Richmond Borough).