Proposing a Bilingual (French-English) Free School in Bromley

[Caro19]

Hi. I'm involved in a group of parents working towards setting up a Bilingual Primary School in Bromley as a free school. My reasons for getting involved are due to the very real, and ongoing shortage of reception places in Bromley (and South East London), as well as the lack of immersion (or any in depth) modern languages teaching in state primaries.

I'd love for my kids to have such advantages (and being in a bilingual family, we are priveleged enough to give them a head start), but not have to do so in the independent sector, for a number of reasons...

If people do want to check out our proposal, our website is www.tinyurl.com/bromleybilingual

I'd like to get a sense of what are peoples thoughts and experiences of free schools, in practice. And ways to address the lack of language teaching and, reception capacity in London.

My thoughts on free schools are that they are rarely set up in the areas that actually need the school places, so do little to help with the primary shortage. Its not just about whether Bromley needs more primary places- its about which parts of Bromley need more primary places.

If you worked with your LA to ensure that the new free school meets those very local needs, then I'd have less of a problem with it, although I still wouldn't like it and wouldn't send my child to it.

Hi 2cats. That's a fair enough point of view. There is a very real gap in Bromley, per the LA, and the new education act unfortunately very much ties the council's hand to set up a new primary directly (free schools or academies are now required to be the first option consdiered).

btw - by 2014, the gap between in borough 4 year olds and reception capacity is projected to be over 300 puil spaces, in bromely's primary school development plan, with the need concentrated in the centre and west of the borough.

Like I said, its not about there being a gap in Bromley- its about where the gaps are in Bromley. Its no use you setting up a primary in an area that's already well served when 2 miles down the road there is a gap in provision.

And , yes I know that the LA's hands are tied and that DofE requires them to seek an academy sponsor or allow a free school to set up schools, but that doesn't mean that I have to like it (and I don't).

A couple of primaries near me (one of the 1FE) are converting to academy, even though the LA is a very good one and the local schools are generally good. I don't understand how they think they are going to maintain standards without the economies of scale that come from buying schools service collectively through the LA when the Dof E turns their money tap down/off (which I believe they will). Its my view that what will happen is that big academy sponsors such as E-ACT will just come in and hoover them up. just seems so short-sighted.

Anyway, good luck with your school. Just because I don;t agree with the free school set up doesn't mean it won't work for you and the other families that use it.

Carol I wish you the best of luck. Yes I would love to offer my child an immersion programme in another language. My child gets 20 minutes of Spanish once a week and she gets more than a lot of kids who get nothing. But no way to learn a language! I don't suppose I could lure you to set it up in Hackney could I?

2Cats the "economies of scale" comment doesn't hold water. There is so so much waste, and LEA's are obliged to only employ certain contractors and deal with certain companies. I recently was involved in fundraising for some musical instruments for the school. When we had enough to go shopping, it was very frustrating to only be able to purchase from certain "approved educational retailers" for the exact same keyboards and percussion instruments that were charging 25% more than another.

Hi bowerbird. Thanks :) There are distance language/immersion classes through the french lycee in south ken, but they aren't the cheapest. Thanks for the best wishes too.

2cats - I do see your point of view, as to be honest, there is an agenda with the program. But thanks.

Good luck with your plan. You almost make me wish we lived in London!

I think its a great plan & wish you the best of luck. Any idea where the school will be located?

Judith Kerr school is a new bilingual English German free school which is currently being set up in Herne Hill. You may want to get in touch with them for some tips and inspiration.

It sounds a great idea. From my experience when you give parents more control standards, are driven up everywhere. Certainly primary schools are useless in teaching languages.

If you create more schools places in one area it has a knock on effect for everywhere, not just the area its in. I see no reason why a council couldn't organize parental demand for more free schools if they feel an area needs one.

Good for you. A friend has recently set up a Montessori free school in Harpenden (similar in that they are very short of places).

Love the idea. Applied for a place in reception but that will be hard to get as we are in BR7.
Free Schools are great idea at least you know what is going on