By David Williams
6 September 2010
Education Secretary Michael Gove has named the first wave ofnew free schools that he hopes will form an integral part of his reform programme to improve choice and raise standards.
In a written ministerial statement submitted to Parliament today, Gove named 16 applicants whose proposals have been conditionally agreed.
The 16 will now draw up a business case and plan, in which they will give details of the school’s educational aims, its premises, and evidence of demand among local residents.
The education secretary will then have final say over whether the plans are approved.
Gove said he was ‘delighted’ that so many proposals had been submitted, and welcomed the diversity of applicants.
‘All these proposals have been driven by demand from local people for improved choice for their young people,’ he said.
The proposals announced today are for primary schools and secondary schools, and include a ‘science academy’ in Bradford, and several faith schools. Three are for the flagship Conservative-controlled London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
Free school proposals that are given final approval could open by September next year, although Gove admitted the timescale is ‘challenging’ and acknowledged that some groups might choose to open later.
He also revealed that the department had received some ‘promising proposals for 2012 and 2013’ – but did not reveal how many had applied.
Free schools will be state-funded establishments that can be set up by groups of parents, local groups and charities, and run independently of the local education authority.
The proposals were introduced by the coalition government earlier this year, and are based on the Swedish model of independent schools, and the US ‘charter school’ movement.
In a separate announcement this morning in London, Gove also outlined plans for a UK version of the international baccalaureate, through which pupils will receive an extra certificate for achieving five good GCSE passes including English, maths, a language and science. He said the scheme would combine the best of both the GCSE and IB systems.
