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The report offers an in-depth exploration of the history and options for the future of the free school policy, recommending a number of innovative steps to reenergise the policy, including changes to the application criteria, ways to lower the cost of new free schools and an expanded role for New Schools Network.
Unity Howard, Director of NSN, said:
Watching schoolchildren the world over demand that world leaders take action against the climate crisis has been inspirational. It is encouraging to know that the next generation already recognise our present trajectory is unsustainable, and that they are prepared to rise up and call for change. As vehicles for social justice, schools have a part to play in teaching children about sustainability and what individuals and communities can do to ensure that future generations inherit a habitable environment.
The Trustees are grateful for Luke’s work to date and wish him well in his future endeavours. The news comes as Secretary of State for Education, The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP, has indicated that free schools are one of his top three priorities for this Government.
Unity Howard, incoming Director at NSN, said:
"The widening attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers is unacceptable. The future of opportunity, social justice and pupils in school right now will depend on our ability to tackle this issue head on. We must open more high performing new free schools, in areas that have been left behind, to address these imbalances.
The Spotlight visit included many exciting activities; from learning musical instruments and performing ‘Viva la Vida’ by Coldplay with the children, to visiting one of the school farms. We even ate our lunch in a converted pub, which now functions as the school’s canteen.
While I could write pages about the tremendous extracurricular activities on offer at LHPA, I think it would be more useful to delve into one of the key aspects of the school’s curriculum: the ‘Music for All’ programme, and how it can be captured and implemented in other schools.
Prove there is a need for your school
This week, concerning figures were obtained from the House of Commons library by Neil O’Brien MP showing a decline in the number of rural primary schools. The figures, quoted in The Times, show almost 150 rural primaries have closed since 2000, with just 5,406 primaries with 200 or fewer pupils now open compared to 11,464 in 1980.
"Many parents who home school do so well, and should have nothing to fear from a quality check to ensure their children are receiving a decent standard of education. For the minority who do not or who are using home schooling as a pretext for sending children to illegal unregistered schools, local councils need to know what is going on and be able to take action quickly.
