Local authorities gain more influence over free schools

Hackney, along with other boroughs, is to have more say over where free schools are located. Photograph: Hackney Citizen

Local authorities will be granted more power on where free schools and academies can open in a scheme designed to meet the rising deficit of school places.

Councils forecasting a high need for additional places will be able to submit bids for funding new free schools or academies, stepping away from the previous model where anyone wanting to set up a free school applied directly to the Department of Education.

Henry Stewart, Chair of Governors of Stoke Newington School and one of the founders of the Local Schools Network, commented: “It’s a small step forward, but local authorities should really be able to choose the right type of school needed as well.”

He said the move showed the Government had “recognised what has been very obvious, that the local authority has a key strategic role in planning school places”.

However, he pointed out that whilst every secondary school in Hackney had recently been declared good or outstanding, the track record for free schools was not so good.

He urged: “Let’s go with what has proven successful. The last thing we need is a free school – we need a community school.”

Mark Lushington, NUT representative for Hackney, voiced similar concerns and said: “I have yet to see Michael Gove give local authorities any authority at all. I am not convinced that it would make any difference.

He went on to say the main issue with free schools was that the majority being set up were secondary establishments, when the shortage of places is with primary schools, which will reach a deficit of 88,000 places in London alone next year.

He said: “The Government needs to stop funding free schools and start funding primary schools.”

On the other hand, Philipa De’Ath, founder of free school Hackney New School, called the proposals “completely fine”, saying: “Local authorities in some areas are short of school places and the only way they are going to make this up is through free schools.”

She added: “I do not want local authorities to meddle in what a free schools does”, but acknowledged that: “A good relationship with local authorities is vital in order to make use of their existing knowledge.”

The scheme, known as the Targeted Basic Need Programme, is funded by the £982 million budget for investing in schools announced last December, and any new schools created through the funds must be either academies or free schools.

Local councils will be able to identify sites where schools are needed, and will then seek proposals for free schools or academies to deliver the area’s needs.

Michael Gove will get the final say on where the schools go, but the government hopes the plans will increase local authority support for free schools.

In response to the scheme, Cllr Rita Krishna, Hackney cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Our focus at the moment is very much on continuing to improve our existing schools.

“As with all of our schools, we will work with and support any free schools if and when they become established.”