Region tops class for new schools

About 90 groups from Yorkshire have already expressed interest in setting up their own free schools and campaigners from Kirklees are expected to be among the first in the country to establish their own secondary.

The Birkenshaw, Birstall and Gomersal Parents Alliance (BBGPA) – who want to open their own 900-place school by 2012 – have been invited to Downing Street to meet David Cameron and Education Secretary Michael Gove later this month to help promote the Government's flagship policy – based on systems from Sweden and the United States.

Mr Gove revealed yesterday that he has ordered a relaxation of planning laws and building regulations which he claims are "too bureaucratic" and prevent new schools from being built and existing buildings from being adapted. This could result in houses and shops being converted into classrooms to allow free schools to be created.

The Government are also removing local councils' rights to object to the community-led state schools being set up.

Education charity, the New Schools Network has revealed that interest is greater in Yorkshire than almost anywhere else in the country. Across England there have been more than 700 enquiries, of which about half have come from teachers.

The BBGPA –set up in response to Kirklees Council school reorganisation plans which parents felt left them without a local school – welcomed yesterday's announcement.

Group spokeswoman Lesley Surman said: "It has been talked about for a long time but now it is a reality and we will be going through the application form to make sure everything is in place.

"We have been called a blueprint for other parents groups so we do feel like we have a lot of responsibility. We want the school to be a success and we want to be able to work with other schools in Kirklees."

Sajid Hussain, a Bradford teacher who wants to set up his own free schools in the city said: "School leaders now have a chance to address the imbalance of a quality education in socially deprived areas and develop a platform that can become a springboard for others to join such as charities, philanthropists, parents and employers."

A group of parents in York is also expected to try to set up a small school in Holgate.

The Government has set aside 50m for the scheme.

Yesterday, Mr Gove suggested that a threshold of 45 to 50 parents may be required to set up primary schools with more could be needed secondaries. However no cap will be imposed on the number of new schools.

He said: "In this country, too often the poorest children are left with the worst education while richer families can buy their way to quality education via private schools or expensive houses. By allowing new schools we will give all children access to the kind of education only the rich can afford – small schools with small class sizes, great teaching and strong discipline."

Labour's Shadow Education Secretary, and Morley and Outwood MP Ed Balls said: "This policy, which is Conservative driven, and which the Liberal Democrats previously called a 'shambles', should be deeply worrying to the majority of parents who will lose out."

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