Free schools offer blank sheet to design a great education

I COMPLETELY agree with Fiona Millar (“Why free schools will cost our children and society dear”, Yorkshire Post, February 11) that there are many great local schools. However, I disagree with her blanket dismissal that free schools will divide communities.

She seems to miss the essential point that the free school programme, like Charter Schools in the United States, offers communities a unique opportunity: A blank sheet to design new ways of offering great education for our children, rather than tinkering with existing models and institutions.

Of course, there is a risk that individuals or groups with private agendas or vested interests will seek to take advantage of the opportunity. However, rather than blaming the proposers, the focus should be on ensuring a rigorous process for selecting proposals that have high potential for success.

As Fiona Millar will presumably know, the application and selection processes are being reviewed in the light of the first six months of experience – and the standard is being significantly raised. As a proposer for a free school in Bradford, I am acutely aware of this delay, but accept its necessity.

To imply that free schools will be more expensive than previous models is patently nonsense.

Ignoring the shocking wastage involved in BSF, it has been made quite clear that the £25-£30m budgets associated with landmark buildings erected for academies only a year or two ago are now a thing of the past.

We are assuming capital budgets at a fraction of this and the need to find creative solutions to reduce running costs. Leasing an old (but inspiring) textile mill and outsourcing non-core activities to expert business sponsors are simply two measures we are proposing to ensure cost-effective education.

Fiona Millar suggests that schools should be created where they are needed and they should be part of the local authority network – and I agree. It seems madness to regard a free school as if it can operate as an island in the local education scene.

The recent White Paper advocates co-ordination by local authorities and we have taken care to consult with education leaders, local councillors and even other headteachers before submitting our proposal.

It so happens that Bradford faces a shortfall in school places and listening to local advice has helped us to site the school where it can best contribute to solving the problem, not aggravating the situation or “creaming off” pupils from neigbouring schools.

The Department for Education has made it very clear that the main factor that will result in approval for a free school is parental demand.

Proposers will need to present a proposition to parents of potential pupils that is clearly different from what is on offer.

That should not demean the efforts and provision of other schools, but it should offer a wider choice. Our own focus is on employability skills alongside academic excellence and strong links with local businesses.

We accept not all parents will want this and that is how it should be.