A free four-form entry secondary school set up by Toby Young in Hammersmith is a place where testing for new learning and teaching methodologies are done. This free school will soon be expanded for primary level education. Being the co-founder of West London Free School (WLFS), he faced quite a lot of arguments about the advantages and disadvantages of the coalition education system. It was finally concluded that free schools provided space where both educationalists and teachers could conduct developmental research programmes on education system. Also, more effective ways of teaching and learning will help to develop standards across the board.
However, he has received various responses regarding this ranging from the ill effects of experimenting with children’s future and that few innovations are being experimented regarding this in community schools already. Also, lesser number of students in free schools does not help in drawing any conclusion regarding the state education system. He however says that he just wants to tell that at the WLFS an experiment is being conducted and that the school will be expanded into a primary school shortly.
The main principle of WLFS is that education must be given to all regardless of pupils’ background or ability. And the academic subjects taught here are English language, English literature, divinity, maths, history, geography, French, Latin, physics, chemistry and biology – and also music, art, drama and sport. The ultimate aim of this education system is to provide the students with core knowledge to make them competent enough with the outside world. WLFS is the most oversubscribed state secondary with 9 applicants for each place this current year. About 28% of year 7s this current year gets free school meals, while 25% of year 7s and 8s receive special educational needs (SEN). Also, between 30 percent and 40 percent of pupils are either Asia, black or minority ethnic. 50% of the pupils have taken English as the additional language. Also, nearly two-thirds of 120 children are taking up musical instrument classes in this school.
Another new school with two- form entry will be opened up in Hammersmith aiming for a classical liberal education. Based on the Hirsch’s Core Knowledge curriculum rolled out in America, it has been learned that school children of Massachusetts where Hirsch’s curriculum was adopted outshined the school children of other states in standardised tests. WLFS will join in partnership with the education thinktank, Civitas for the new primary school. Civitas has adapted the Hirsch’s elementary school curriculum for English primaries. This plan is thought to be successful in London as in the case of Boston especially in the case of children from deprived backgrounds.
