MP criticises ‘secrecy’ over free school plans

Labour MP Denis MacShane, had called on the Department for Education (DfE) to publish evidence of the parental demand for the Rotherham Central Free School along with information about where it would be based and what consultation had been carried out.

The planned school, which announced in 2010 that one of the Chuckle brothers would be its patron, has been approved to pre-opening stage by Ministers and is expecting to be open in September this year.

However the DfE has revealed “there is a lot of work to be done” before it gets final approval.

The Rotherham MP submitted four separate requests under the Freedom of Information Act, all of which were rejected by the DfE. He now intends to appeal. He said: “The highly secretive nature of the plans is interfering with the need for a proper debate. Premises for the school are still unconfirmed, no local stakeholders have been consulted on the proposals, and all this for a school supposedly opening in September.”

He has now written to the Education Secretary Michael Gove. His letter says: “The contemptuous refusal by your official even to provide a basic amount of information on a process of high interest to my constituency is breath-taking.”

A DfE spokeswoman said: “All free school applications undergo a thorough assessment process, and to be approved to the pre-opening stage projects have to show evidence of demand from parents for what they plan to offer. The DfE will challenge groups rigorously to ensure that only schools of the highest quality and value for money are able to open. There is a lot of work to be done before Rotherham Central Free School will be approved to open, and the group must consult with people who will have an interest and report the results to the Secretary of State for him to consider.”

The Yorkshire Post has been unable to contact Charlotte Blencowe who is leading the plan for the Rotherham Central Free School.