New free schools are being set up all over the country but most of them are facing a problem of proper sites. The new free school in Warrington is an example. The King’s Leadership Academy is facing a similar problem and promoters are in negotiations with the borough council. Free schools are primary schools and secondary schools that are state-funded but started by teachers, parents, charities and private firms. They are given greater freedom to change school’s day timings, the teacher’s pay and even the subjects they teach.
The Guardian reported that of the 68 free schools in the pipeline, approved recently and due to open this year, 8 do not have a permanent site. Two of the schools will be opening only next year because of the same problem. Nine have opened temporary places, waiting for building work to be completed or conversions to be finished. Some of the schools who have sites, have now disputes with the local authorities regarding planning. In one or more cases planners have found the sites not suitable.
Now ministers have taken a strong approach to the issue, including that of the Warrington borough council’s unwillingness to share Woolston community high school’s premises, which were vacated for a special school. Department for Education officials interfered, after which it was agreed to a place, until a new building was built. The DfE referred to the 2010 Academies Act that allowed the government to ‘scheme’ ownership of a vacant education site, if refused to be handed over by a local authority. Apart from using the Act, local ministers can pressurise the planning authorities. This kind of problem is more so in London, where 4 of the schools are without sites. London authorities don’t seem keen to have free schools in their area. Groups that have worked hard to start free schools are not being able to secure sites for their premises.
