Gove sets out vision for free schools

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Education secretary Michael Gove has set out his vision for a "generation of world-class schools" as he announced that there have been 281 applications set up free schools.

He said he wanted to free schools from "meddling and prescription" to provide pupils with the type of education "previously reserved for the rich".

Speaking at Policy Exchange, the education secretary said it was "remarkable" that the first free schools are set to be open in September 2012.

"Before the election, countless people told me that it was foolish to expect any free schools at all to open in September 2011. But we proved them wrong," he said

"We are not being prescriptive about free schools and so they come in all shapes and sizes."

Gove said free schools can combat the twin challenges of spending constraints and demography.

He added that over half of free school proposals are from teacher, parent or community groups.

The education secretary said the government had made the applications process "more rigorous" with an interview system now in place for applicants.

He said: "The government is absolutely determined to ensure that no one who has an extremist agenda - whether it's politically or religiously extremist - has access to public money."

Figures today confirmed that 281 groups had applied to establish free schools in the latest round.

Gove said the proposals followed 323 from the first round of applications, of which 32 are now being progressed by officials.

Between 10 and twenty free schools are expected to open in September 2011 and it is hoped that a further 100 will open next year.

Free schools are founded under academy status and funded by central government, outside of the control of local authorities.

With freedom from local authority control, the schools are able to rewrite the curriculum, manage they own rules on staff pay and admissions policy.

Speaking ahead of Gove, Sir Michael Wilshaw, the executive principal of Mossbourne Academy said the school operates a longer school and opens at weekends.

He said pupils often work until 6 or 7pm and have their evening meal at school.

The Hackney school has seen 82 per cent of its pupils obtain five A*-C GCSE’s (the national average is 54 per cent.) and 33 per cent got the EBacc.

Shadow education secretary Andy Burnham said Gove was "pouring time, energy and resources into a free schools programme which will be irrelevant for most parents, and is diverting funding out of mainstream schools into wealthier areas".

He added: "Michael Gove tells us that setting up new schools in this way - including removing requirements to employ qualified teachers - will improve standards, but similar reforms in Sweden led to failing standards and social segregation."

Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers said the education secretary should not be "boasting" about the figures and questioned the quality of the applications.

She said: "It is shameful that at a time of huge cuts the government is squandering public money on few 'trophy schools'.

"It should be concentrating on supporting existing state schools which educate the overwhelming majority of pupils, not wasting scarce resources on a few schools which only a tiny minority of pupils will benefit from."

Philip Parkin, general secretary of Voice said they were concerned about the "whole concept of free schools and their expansion".

"We are concerned about schools being set up by those who wish to promote a particular philosophy – be that atheist, religious, creationist, political or financial.

"Providing high quality education may not be their priority" he said.

"We have raised our concerns about the impact of free schools in terms of their long-term funding and viability and their potential effects on other schools.

"With our public services facing savage cuts, can the country afford free schools?"

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