Plans afoot for Free School for Hackney
A group of teachers, parents, business people and Hackney residents held a public meeting on Saturday 5 March at Trelawney Estate Community Hall to discuss their ideas a new ‘free school’ in Hackney. The proposal is for a non-selective primary school based in the Clapton/Homerton area to open in September 2012.
To demonstrate demand for the school, the group hopes to collect 2000 signatures from Hackney residents by the end of this month, when they will submit a formal application to the Department of Education. If accepted, the application will move onto the next phase where firm details will be given regarding the location, educational aims, curriculum and business plan for the school.
Since June 2010 the Department for Education has accepted applications for setting up free schools, a key element of the Conservative government’s education reforms. Free schools will use taxpayers’ money to establish and operate schools outside of the traditional state model, enabling interested groups to set the curriculum, timetable, admission criteria and salaries. A major driver behind the reforms is the idea that competition and privatisation in the education sector will improve standards and lead to more choice for parents.
In a move that may assuage some of the doubts of those opposed to free schools, Ali Arslan, chair of the proposed school’s steering committee, says that school will stick close to the current state school model. It will teach the National Curriculum and follow the same Local Education Authority admissions criteria, prioritising applications based on proximity to the school.
In recognition of Hackney’s diversity and the challenges faced by pupils when English is not their mother tongue, the school will have an English as a second language unit to improve literacy.The Free School for Hackney initiative argue that government cuts mean Hackney Council will not be able to afford to build new schools, creating a shortage of primary school places unless free schools are built to meet demands. “We didn’t choose this scenario, the government did,” said Mr Arslan, “but if we want investment in education in Hackney, let’s have free schools.”
Update 11.45am Thursday 10 March 2011:
Commenting on the free school proposal, Mark Lushington, Hackney representative of the National Union of Teachers said,”Just as there is no such thing as a free lunch, there is no such thing as a free school. A recent ‘free’ school in Bradford cost £15m. – most people would blink at calling that free, especially since it comes out of the schools education budget and, therefore, is not available to other schools to support their pupils and students.
“‘Free schools’ are not required to follow the National Curriculum, employ teachers on our national terms and conditions of service – in fact, they are not even required to employ trained teachers.
“Where is the shortage of pupil places in Hackney demonstrated? Why are these sponsors not arguing for a restoration of the Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant [EMAG] for all schools? These are not free schools: they are expensive schools at others schools’ expense.”
Update 5.10pm Thursday 10 March 2011:
A spokesperson for the Learning Trust said, “The Learning Trust can offer places to all families who wish to send their children to a Hackney primary school.
“As the local [education] authority for Hackney, we have a duty to provide places for all Hackney children. Currently we have vacancies in all year groups, including reception. We are also in the final stages of a consultation to expand five primary schools, which will create an additional 150 primary places.
“Some parents do choose to send their children to schools outside the borough. Families who live close to neighbouring boroughs may find that an out of borough school is closer to them, for example. This is their choice, and does not mean that there are not enough places in Hackney.”
More information about a Free School for Hackney.
Related: There is no such thing as a ‘free school’ for Hackney