Would you send your child to a Free School?

[MrsJamin]

If you had the choice? It is pretty much in the running for us (choosing primary school this year), and I wasn't really concerned but my Dad thought it was risky as you don't know how this government (or the next) will deal with them in the future, i.e. they could be more likely to close than your standard Local Authority run school. Anyone else in a similar position? I don't want to feel like I'm gambling with my son's education!

eep, no, I can't.. it's just what the guy from the school said when we all asked about it lol

it'll be somewhere, I will get dp to see if he can find it

Free Schools are based on the Swedish model, which 'of course' were not run for profit. Seven (? I think) years later - guess what happened to that 'not for profit' ethos?

And Charter schools in the USA, Alice, apparently they are another inspiration for the Free School model.

My cousins' kids were bullied at a Charter school. By a Teacher/Co-founder. No end of stories of petty things the teacher did, targetting Cousin's eldest. Cousin tried to put up with it for years before giving up; she home-eds them now.

Can someone explain the odd admissions criteria for the West London Free School? They have opened in temporary accommodation and if the distance criteria was needed, distance was calculated from home to school. Next year, when I think they are moving to new premises, the distance is calculated from home to the Town Hall! Is this some skullduggery at play because next year some interested parents may be too far away when the school is moved?

Mmm hocuspontas it does sound rather made up on the hoof, doesn't it? Such massive changes happening so fast can't be good, can it? Even those setting up the schools admit it has all happened rather quickly. The whole thing makes me really nervous. Maybe I'm just being over cautious though.

k it says in our funding agreement that:

"either partner may not give less than 7 years' written notice to terminate this agreement"

I would send DD to one if I liked the ethos and the people who run/set it up. I really think they are a brilliant idea in the right hands. I also think that state comps can be very restrictive and don't favour children who don't fit the 'norm' of that particular school/head.

thisisyesterday
you have been misled
a per the model funding agreement on the DFE website
www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/freeschools/a0074737/free-schools-model-funding-agreement
Clauses 83 to 92 clearly state that if the DFe are dissatisfied with the school, the contract can be terminated with as little as 30 days notice and "forthwith" in the case of Ofsted Special Measures (91 C 4 B - page 34)

ie if they start to mess up or the political wind REALLY changes, they are dust.

but we were just talking about what would happen if the next govt decided to just scrap them completely no? not if they were dissatisfied or if it went into special measures?

the agreement also states that the school can reply with an action plan in those cases and be given time to improve... just as a state school would?

and unless I have mis-read, it says they will have 30 days within which to meet a deputation and then they will be given 12 months notice to terminate the agreement?

but they would have to do something pretty bad to get into special measures?

As I say though, I had posted that initially in response to people saying "they might just shut"... they can't "just shut" unless there is a very good reason to, and presumably if they were that awful you prob wouldn't mind anyway!?

TBH if a school was heading that way, the classrooms would be empty before the dfe got around to taking action
BUT knowing how ineffectual they have been with the original academies
the parents would be left in the lurch - yet again
like for the parents near me who are stuck with the dying school that lays off teachers ten at a time but is STILL getting its new building from Dfe!

Not a chance!
Not that this particular fad seems to have spread this far north yet
Hopefully this initiative dies a death and we can concentrate on mainstream education

PINKY Yes it is all a risk. I dont have children;but I will be watching the free school exp with interest. Mixed feelings about Toby He is reacting against daddy, a Labourite