Launching a Free School in Southwark

[etak100]

Hi - I am part of a group of parents and professionals who are opening a Free School in the Rotherhithe Road in September 2012. We are holding a number of consultation meetings and want as many people to come along to hear our plans and tell us what they would be looking for in a new local primary. The meetings are at the Links Community Centre, 353 Rotherhithe New Road, SE16 3HF, on:
Friday 30th March 2.30-4.30pm
Tuesday 3rd April 2.30-4.30pm and 6.30-8pm
Wednesday 18th April 10am-12pm

Alternatively check us out on line at www.southwarkfreeschool.com or ask for more details through this forum.
Thanks

I don't agree with free schools, and would not send my dc to one on principal.

err bit harsh @jinsel

These days, if an LEA identifies a need for a school they are not allowed to set one up themselves, so whether I would object to this school would depend on whether there was already adequate provision in the area. if there is a shortage of places then a free school could be the only way to go.

Do try (hard I know) not to let Toby Young and his self righteous posturing (and trousering of large amounts of public money) put you off...

Evidence that Toby Young has trousered any public money (which I take to mean that public money has found its way into his own pockets)? If he has he is guilty of a criminal offence.

Very harsh jensei.

Good luck Etak.

And I certainly agree with nlondondad.

I'd far rather a new school was opened then every single existing school expanded - which is what's happening here.

In fact I'd love a free school to open and my school not to be expanded.

We now have 5 form entry schools with over a 1000 pupils near me........

But then I care more about my children's education then about politics.

We have a new free school just up the road and lots of very happy parents. Provision was needed and the area has never had its own school. Serves a purpose I think.

Surely it depends on the free school.
A school providing a great education which meets the needs and beliefs of a wide and inclusive, representative, section of the local community could be excellent.

A Free School based on the bee-in-bonnet or isiosyncratic or ranty non-expert beliefs of people who mainly want their children educated apart from people they don't like, less so.

Thanks nlondondad - just to let you know there is a current and forecast shortfall of primary school places in the borough. According to the Greater London Assembly for Livesey Ward, which includes Rotherhithe New Road, the number of 0 ? 14 year olds will increase from 3300 now to 4050 in ten years time.
This means that the Southwark Free School will complement not compete with existing community provision, while giving parents more choice and greater access to high quality education.

'But then I care more about my children's education then about politics.'

I just wrote a stupidly sarcastic reply which I have deleted. Do you really think that the decision to expand schools rather than open new ones within the LEA system is a decision that doesn't involve 'politics'?

I know there are a lot of mixed feelings about Free Schools. Our aim is to provide a school where all children can learn, aspire and succeed, irrespective of their background and circumstances. However, why not come along to one of our public consultation meetings and find out more. The first of these is on Friday 30th March at the Links Community Centre, 353 Rotherhithe New Road SE16 3HF from 2.30-4.30pm. I hope to see some of you there.

Joan, I think you've misunderstood Indigo's comment...

It seems to me that she is saying the move to expand schools rather than open new ones is politically motivated, rather than pedagogically, which is why she doesn't support it.

No, in response to jinsie, I'm saying I would always choose the best school for my children.

And I do not care at all whether it is a free school, academy or maintained school. It would not be a factor in my decision making process at all.

I only care about whether or not I thought it was the best school for my children.

I interpreted jinsei's comments to means she would not choose a good school for her child if it happened to be a free school.

She is of course welcome to do whatever she wants - including home educate if all the schools with free spaces are free schools.

Luckily I also don't care either way about academies - because all the secondary schools in my borough are academies.