Free School plan moves ahead

ORGANISERS of the controversial plan to set up a free school at Warrington were elated today, following the decision by Education Secretary Michael Gove to approve the next stage of the process.
This will involve the organisers of the King’s School project at Woolston converting their vision to reality – but they will have to do so in the face of considerable opposition from Warrington Borough Council.
In a letter to the council, Lord Hill of Oareford, Under Secretary State for Schools, says Mr Gove will not enter into any funding arrangement with the new school without first consulting the council.
The council has always opposed the whole concept of free schools and, in particular, at Woolston.
In fact, the council’s executive board is next week likely to support a plan to convert the Woolston High School buildings into accommodation for two special schools after the high school closes next July.
The King’s School organisers, on the other hand, hope to open their school in the high school buildings next September.
Pinaki Ghoshal, assistant director of children and young people’s services at the council, said: “The council has worked successfully in partnership with all schools in Warrington to build and deliver excellent educational opportunities for our children and young people and this will continue.
“However our local intelligence, which has been shared with the Department for Education, indicates there is insufficient demand to justify the proposed free school in Woolston. There are existing unfilled places in neighbouring schools and the opening of this institution could have further repercussions for these schools.”
Headed by Sir Iain Hall, former head of Parrswood High School, in Manchester and associate director of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, the King’s School group, in its vision statement, says the new school will develop the highest of aspirations and ambitions among pupils as they seek places at university and, or, seek entry to professions and higher level employment.
Teaching staff will be of the highest calibre and be able to demonstrate high personal academic achievements. They will be innovative, ambitious for their students and offer cutting edge practice by continual self reflection and high quality professional development
The borough council has opposed the plan from the outset.
Cllr Colin Froggatt (pictured), the council’s executive member for education, said: “This week we received a letter from the Department for Education to inform us that the proposed free school in Woolston has progressed to the next stage of its application. It has not yet received final approval.
“The letter also states that consideration needs to be given to the impact that any new school will have on existing ones in the area and that they will not enter into a funding arrangement until all views have been carefully considered. We will therefore be providing the DfE with further information about numbers of children who live in the area and their current high school destinations in due course.”
In the past, Cllr Froggatt has said he believes the new school would have a damaging effect on other schools in the borough – particularly Lysander High School at Padgate and Birchwood High School.
Teachers unions are also opposed to the scheme.
More details of the proposed free school are available at www.woolstonacademy.co.uk