Free school project for city children

The Beechtree Steiner Initiative which currently runs two kindergartens and five parent and child groups in the city is aiming to set up a free school serving Leeds children from the age of three to 16.

The group are linked to the Steiner Waldorf international schools movement which has 31 schools across the country including one in York.

They plan to submit an application this summer to create a free school opening from next year.

It would start with a class of around 26 primary school pupils and aim to “grow organically” from there.

The Steiner School in York is run privately – although there are no set fees and parents negotiate a contribution based on what they can afford. However the Leeds school would be one of the first state-funded Steiner Schools in the country if the plan gets the go-ahead. No site has been identified yet for the proposed school.

The Beechtree Steiner Initiative is holding a series of open days to allow prospective parents to find out more about their plans.

These will take place at the group’s Moor Road Kindergarten at the Old Tetley Hall, Headingley, on Saturday, May 14, from 11am until noon and on Monday, May 16, and Tuesday, May 17, from 9am until 10.30am and from 6pm until 8pm.

The Government’s free school programme has been set up to allow parents and teachers to set up their own schools whenever they are unhappy with the choice on offer in their local authority.