Parents urge community to join free school drive

The York free school campaign has been set up in response to the coalition Government's vision for state schools that are opened and run by parents and teachers.

Education Secretary Michael Gove's free school plan, modelled on

reforms in Sweden and America, will allow state-funded schools to open in areas where parents are not happy with the existing choice on offer from the local authority. The free schools will be run independently like academies with powers to set their own admissions and timetable.

The York group of parents have set up a campaign to open their own secondary in the Holgate area of the city.

The site of the former carriageworks has been identified as "the ideal location" although plans are said to still be at an early stage. The five-acre area of land was owned by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.

Parents are being urged to attend a meeting at the Holgate Methodist Church Hall, on Wednesday, July 7, to find out more. So far 40 parents have joined the campaign.

Mr Moat said: "What started as an idea among a small gathering of neighbours is turning into something that really could happen.

"We have had overwhelmingly positive interest from both parents and education professionals. But by far the biggest interest has come from ordinary, hard working people who see this as an attractive option."