Free school mess-not the best start to flagship ed policy is it?

[mam29]

Caught this on c4news tonight.

www.channel4.com/news/bradford-free-school-funding-fiasco-who-is-to-blame

a free school due to open next week with capacity for 50pupils had had funding cut and been axed.

doesnt seem fair on new year 7s does it?

if bradford anything like most cities how hell are the parents who signed up to it going to find a place at another decent school once all places been allocated sounds potential nightmare.

There could be more than 1 this affects.

Im interested in free school idea but seeing this makes it hard for parents to put their faith in it if week before school starts they say oh no its not opening.

Its such a new idea parents really taking a risk with brand new school as it is.

Im dissapointed with how its been handled.

Plus c4 unlike bbc/sky news I always say is politicaly neutral its like independant of tv so no agenda just reporting the news and facts.

Anyone else picked a free school or child attends one?
I was considering free school primary admission 2014 and 2015 for younger 2 they hoping it will open sept 2013.

I feel for the families, but why would anyone commit to a school that doesn't even officially exist yet? They must have known this was a possibility.

Personally, I would never want my child 's education to be dependent on the whim of a sponsor, so would never sign up to one.

The funding hadn't actually been confirmed from what's been in the local paper, but they went ahead anyway. Bloody stupid. The sad thing is there's a very poor standard of schools in Bradford.

The whole free school policy is a mess, for many reasons, although this decision - not the timing of it - is sensible. It simply wasn't a goer, and it would have been useful if someone has realised this stark obvious fact as soon as they put in an application.

One of the inherent problems in the free school agenda is that schools have no responsibility to open where there is a demand, which is crazy given the school place crisis that is looming over the next decade with rising birth rate etc.

It's like the one in Beccles, which has had 37 applications for 300 places (but is going ahead, funded by my taxes - am not happy!).

I think free schools should only be allowed in areas where there is a shortage of places.