Cameron gives green light to Free Schools across the region
Prime Minister David Cameron today announced that 49 more free schools have been given the green light in the final wave of approvals before the election.
Six of those are to be set up in the North West:
Cheadle Hulme Primary School near Stockport, Greater Manchester
The Cheadle Hulme Education Trust, will open a 420 place Cheadle Hulme Primary School in 2016. The school will follow the national curriculum and introduce specialist teaching inlanguage and science education.
Christleton International Studio in Chester, Cheshire
Christleton International Studio in Chester will be sponsored by Christleton High School, in partnership with Bank of America Merrill Lynch. The studio school will specialise in business and enterprise, with capacity for 330 students. The studio school will offer a catered curriculum developed in partnership with its banking partner.
North Cestrian School in Altrincham, Cheshire
From September 2016 the North Cestrian Grammar School will become a free school. The move will give students from all economic backgrounds the chance to attend this previously fee-paying school. Forming a new partnership with the Altrincham Grammar School for Boys.
The Olive School in Bolton, Greater Manchester
In 2016 the Tauheedul Trust will open the Olive School, a new Muslim faith primary school in Bolton. The trust’s vision for its schools is that they should become a national model for progressive, mainstream and positive faith-based education.
The Olive School in Preston, Lancashire
Tauheedul Trust will open this new Muslim faith primary school in 2016. This will be the trust’s second free school in Preston once Eden School opens this year. The trust’s vision for its Muslim schools is that they should become a national model for progressive, mainstream and positive faith-based education.
The Orchards in Trafford, Greater Manchester
The Orchards will open in September 2016 to provide education to primary pupils with complex learning difficulties. The school, which will have close links with Trafford Council, will cater for 80 pupils and provide a learning programme tailored to the abilities and needs of each of its pupil.
If the Tories win at the general election they say they will open hundreds of free schools across the country.
They say that plan to open at least 500 of the schools, which can be set up by community groups including parents, charities or teachers, will mean an extra 270,000 places at the institutions which were introduced as part of former education secretary Michael Gove's reforms.
Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt is critical of the move and says that a a third of Free Schools have been found to be under-performing.