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Free Schools (Arguments (Free schools are a very good example of a…
Free Schools
Arguments
Free schools are a very good example of a neoliberal policy – the government is taking power away from Local Education Authorities (local government) and giving more power to parents, private businesses and charities to run schools.
Free schools benefit primarily middle-class parents with the time to set them up, fuelling social segregation
Free schools divert money away from existing schools – There is a set amount of money in the education budget, and if free schools this means relatively less money for the Local Education Authority maintained schools.
They are not actually needed and have lead to a surplus of school places – More than half of Free Schools opening in 2012 opened with 60% or less of the student numbers predicted by the impact assessment documents of each institution
People don’t actually want Free Schools – Polling in April 2015 put public support for Conservative proposals to increase the number of Free Schools by at least 500 at 26%.
Free Schools would be run by private companies rather than parents, teachers or voluntary groups. There is also the fact that in 2012 over 60% of free school applications were made by faith groups.
What are they?
A Free School in England is a type of Academy, a non-profit-making, state-funded school which is free to attend.
Free schools are not controlled by a Local Authority (LA) but instead governed by anon-profit charitable trust.
To set up a Free School, founding groups submit applications to the Department for Education.
Groups include those run by parents, education charities and religious groups.
Ongoing funding is on an equivalent basis with other locally controlled state maintained schools, although additional start-up grants to establish the schools are also paid
History
Free Schools were introduced by the Coalition government in 2010 general election as part of the Big Society initiative
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To date, since 2010 there have been around 400 Free Schools established
Types
Studio school – A small free school, usually with around 300 pupils, using project-based learning.
University Technical College – A free school for the 14-18 age group, specialising in practical, employment focused subjects, sponsored by a university, employer or further education college.
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Supporters
They allow parents to have more choice in the type of education their child receives, much like parents who send their children to independent schools do.
They also claim that free schools benefit children from all backgrounds – which could especially be the case with….
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