| Topic: | Re:Re:Free Schools | |
| Posted by: | Jim Maddan | |
| Date/Time: | 28/04/10 14:07:00 |
| Catherine The letter is being distributed as fast as I can, but I have only one pair of legs. The details will be contained in our next e-bulletin which hopefully will be appearing on the website over the weekend. The school on the common is All Saints. This is a church school. There are lots of people who are not church-goers who are not prepared to adopt the hypocritical stance and say that they are, just to get into a good local school. That is why more LOCAL school spaces are required. The term 'free' does not relate to the cost in this case. It relates to the style of management. A 'free' school is free from local authority and government control or in deed church control. It is managed by the community in the way that it is organised. The role of the headteacher is pivotal and this would be an exciting prospect. The demand for places at primary schools in Thamesfield is at a very high level. Extra spaces are having to be found at Hotham and Brandlehow Schools. Our research shows that it will get worse in the years ahead, not better. One of the reasons for this is the recession. In years past families would move out of London as their children approached school age, but they can no longer afford to. Instead thay are staying put and achieving more space by creating basements and loft conversions. You only have to walk the streets of Putney to realise that this is the case when you see the amount of building work being undertaken. |