Free school opens at last as number in the region doubles

A FREE school which only discovered that its Government funding was not being approved a week before it was set to open last year has opened its doors, 12 months later.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Sep 2013, 01:01 BST

The One in a Million Free School in Bradford is one of six opening in Yorkshire this month bringing the overall total in the region to 12.

The school is run by a charity linked to Bradford City football club and its premises are next to the Valley Parade ground in what was once the club shop.

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The Department for Education said work was halted last year and deferred after it experienced a decline in pupil numbers.

The secondary school is now oversubscribed for its first intake with 60 places in year seven.

The five other free schools opening in Yorkshire include a primary school specialising in science which has a Sikh ethos, a Jewish secondary school which is joining an existing primary, a new inner city secondary school in Hull focused on traditional academic subjects, a college near Halifax providing vocational courses for 16 to 19-year-olds and a private girls’ school which is joining the state sector.

The Khalsa Science Academy, Leeds, will be a primary school for 210 pupils in the Chapeltown area of the city. Harnek Singh, chair of trustees of the Khalsa Education Trust, said: “I give my sincerest thanks to all the volunteers and supporters in making this Sikh ethos school possible. This is the first school of its kind in the country for Science specialism at primary school level integrated with a Sikh ethos. We welcome all children regardless of background or faith.”

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The Leeds Jewish Free School, in the Alwoodley area of the city will run alongside the existing Brodetsky Jewish Primary School.

The Maltings College, is a 16 – 19 free school for 300 young people based in Halifax. The school has been set up by Hipperholme and Lightcliffe High School.

The Boulevard Academy is being set up in west Hull on the former grounds of Hull FC and The Girls’ Grammar School in Bradford is an independent school which is now joining the state sector.

Education Secretary Michael Gove said: “Free schools are now an integral part of the growing success story of state education in England. They are hugely popular, giving parents greater choice in communities poorly served for generations. Their success reflects incredibly well on the teachers who work in them and the parents who support them.”

There are now 174 free schools open nationally.

Related topics:BradfordMichael Gove