Workplace diversity group wins right to start school

A BUSINESS organisation that specialises in bringing diversity to the region's workforces has been given approval to set up a new "free school". The proposal from the Bradford Free School Group is one of only four to be granted approval in the latest round of applications and takes the number given the green light nationally to 20.
By The Newsroom
Published 2nd Nov 2010, 22:22 BST
Updated 2nd Nov 2010, 22:23 BST

The bid is backed by Asian Trade Link (ATL), a Yorkshire-based group that seeks to encourage business and training opportunities for minority communities. It is the second application in the region to get the go ahead after King's Science Academy, also in Bradford, was approved by Education Secretary Michael Gove in September.

The latest proposed "free school" will be called Rainbow School and the group hopes to open it in September 2011.

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Ayub Ismail, director of operations and development at ATL, said: "It's fantastic news, brilliant." He added that he had not yet been told officially of the Government's decision and was waiting to have its confirmation before detailing the group's plans.

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said: "We are very pleased to confirm that the Bradford Free School group has been approved to progress to the next stage of their application. "The group will now start work on producing a detailed business case which will be submitted to the department."

The "free schools" reform was a key policy in the Conservatives' manifesto before May's General Election but critics have argued the scheme diverts money from existing education budgets. Legislation was pushed through soon after the coalition Government was formed to allow businesses, charities and parents' groups to set up free schools. Mr Gove said last month that bids must show that there was a demand from parents for the schools, which are state-funded but free of local authority control.

Proposals must set out in detail the educational aims and objectives of the school, details of the teaching staff and potential premises.

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They are then submitted to the New Schools Network, an independent charitable organisation set up in June. The body was controversially given 500,000 of Government funding so it could work with proposers and bring plans up to the required standard.

The proposed King's Science Academy in the Lidget Green area of Bradford, will be a secondary school for up to 600 pupils if the group's final business plan is accepted.

Until last year ATL chief executive Arshad Javed was on the board of Yorkshire Forward, the soon-to-be-abolished regional development agency.

Three other proposals have been given initial approval – All Saints School in Reading, Cuckoo Hall School in Edmonton, and Sandbach School in Cheshire.

The Government is expected to make an official announcement next week.

Related topics:Michael GoveGovernmentBradford