Free schools

[Dentvincent]

does anyone have any experience of free schools. In Richmond borough - London there are a number of possible proposals and these seem able to be set up with very little support. There is certainly a need for more schools but parents seem to get little say in what is proposed ( although that could stand for the lea as well!) how many free schools actually get set up from initial proposal?

They only go ahead if they can demonstrate they have parent's support.

Well, if there is a need for more school places, then Free Schools, academies or adding bulge classes to existing maintained schools are the only way they'll be created, as LA's are no longer allowed to build more schools.

Have a look on the Local Schools Network site - there are links to proposed/agreed Free Schools on there.

Where did you hear LEAs aren't allowed to build new schools?

I was under the impression they were building a new one my way..... But I've heard conflicting info on whether or not it's going ahead.

What have you heard?

We have one, but it's not purpose built. It had to be SN existing building.

Not SN !! I meant 'an'