Why do we need New Schools?

There is a significant minority of parents who cannot send their child to a good local school. While the wealthy can buy a house in the right postcode, or pay for private school fees, many do not have that option. We believe every parent should have access to a good local school which offers what their child needs – the right level of attention, the right ethos and the right curriculum. Most state schools are good – many are superb. They should continue to thrive. But in some areas we need more, and better, schools. Where parents cannot get into a good local school, new schools should be able to set up and given the freedom to offer what parents want. Further, demographic pressures mean that we need more schools. It would be better if some of these open where teachers and parents want them rather than having them all built in the same way as the past – ie. controlled by Westminster and Whitehall.