Social Network for RSA Fellows

A new community (Free?) primary school

I am hoping to find Fellows to assist in the foundation of a new Primary School.
Teachers, education providers, schools administrators or educational advisers are needed for a new primary school in NW3 London.

I am a parent (not 'in' education) involved in a campaign for a new community primary school in Belsize Park NW3. There is a crisis in provision in this area, where around 100 kids per year cannot find a place in a local primary school. Camden has admitted there is a requirement and has made £1m available towards new provision. A possible local authority owned site has also been identified.

I hope that a new school in our area might augment the public sector rather than draining resources from it. So far there has been no progress made by contacting the government appointed 'New Schools Network', so what I am hoping for is support or advice from Fellows who have the means or contacts to deliver a new primary school.

If you are in a position to help or advise I would love to hear from you.

Alex Maclean

Tags: education, free, new, primary, provider, school, teacher

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Maurizio Fantato on July 15, 2010 at 16:33

Alex, you have all my sympathy first of all. I became a governor of a specialist school in my county and got involved in its transformation, when a "New Schools Network" had not even been conceived. It soon became clear that the only way of getting something done was through lobbying. Together with a group of other parents we called up a "round table discussion" where we invited local businesses, local and national politicians, educational experts and so on - you will find an appropriate mix depending on your location and needs. This was followed by a number of other similar events and more PR, eventually we got close to what we were trying to achieve. (I am cutting short a very long process!!) As the New Schools Network is so brand new and its details are still being finalised I guess you won't get too far with this in the very near future, so my approach may at least help removing some of the future obstacles you may encounter. Good luck and keep smiling, it's the only real secret...!!

Permalink Reply by Alex Maclean on July 23, 2010 at 10:02

Dear Maurizio
Many thanks for your encouragement. We do indeed have a group of active campaigners including local politicians, parents, and even celebrities. The New Schools Network have provided some contacts, amongst which I hope to find contributors with the community's best interests at heart. It seems unavoidable that commercial interests will govern the development of these new Free Schools, and the approaches I have received so far from the New Schools Network have demonstrated some brazen profit motive. Thanks again, I will, as you suggest, remain optimistic and cheerful throughout this process whilst trying to run my own company and be a proper dad!

Permalink Reply by Pascale Scheurer on July 26, 2010 at 9:42

Hi Alex

I would be very interested - I am also in the process of setting up a Free School, in Hackney. Through this I am also in touch with parents in Camden with similar interests.

I have worked with Camden's education department for several years. I'm a Chartered Architect and I have spent the last seven years helping schools define their requirements and translate those into a Design Brief, assess their site options, draw down funding etc.

If I can be of help please let me know and perhaps we can meet for a chat. Happy to assist a fellow Fellow Free Schooler - I am sure we can help each other through the process.

Best regards, Pascale

Permalink Reply by Alex Maclean on July 26, 2010 at 20:56

Dear Pascale,

Thank you so much for your offer of assistance. I will present your credentials to the group if you like. It may be a little early for a feasibility study as no site has been agreed yet. The crucial thing at the moment is establishing the ethos of the school, to determine whether the Free School route can deliver a school which supports the state sector.

I look forward to speaking further,

Alex

Permalink Reply by Pascale Scheurer on July 27, 2010 at 8:52

Hi Alex

We've just sent in our initial proposal form to DfE and New Schools Network. Have you done yours? We found it quite comprehensive and there were a number of sections we struggled with as our thinking wasn't so well developed - for examp[le the site location, like you.

The issue of finding a suitable and affordable site will be a key hurdle for all Free Schools projects in London. Toby Young's group have already said so publicly. It will be interesting to see what advice and support DfE can offer on this.

Best, Pascale

Alex Maclean said:

Dear Pascale,

Thank you so much for your offer of assistance. I will present your credentials to the group if you like. It may be a little early for a feasibility study as no site has been agreed yet. The crucial thing at the moment is establishing the ethos of the school, to determine whether the Free School route can deliver a school which supports the state sector.

I look forward to speaking further,

Alex

Permalink Reply by Maurizio Fantato on July 27, 2010 at 9:28

Dear Alex
I am not sure exactly how you define "supporting the state sector". I am only saying this based on my experience as it's really incredibly complex at the moment to create a school with a different ethos from a basic state institution. This is because of all the rules and regulations related to curriculum and admission. In effect we are in a situation right now where despite the apparent political goodwill and support for schools with their own individual ethos, there is as yet no clear system in place to facilitate this process and everyone has to go through immense loops. I have no practical solution to offer I am afraid, except what I said in my first message. But is the New Schools Network an appropriate setting for parents to influence this difficult process? Perhaps we ought to create a broader and more open forum made up of people like ourselves? I don't really know.... though we must all continue lobbying as hard as possible. Nil desperandum....
Maurizio

Pascale Scheurer said:

Hi Alex

We've just sent in our initial proposal form to DfE and New Schools Network. Have you done yours? We found it quite comprehensive and there were a number of sections we struggled with as our thinking wasn't so well developed - for examp[le the site location, like you.

The issue of finding a suitable and affordable site will be a key hurdle for all Free Schools projects in London. Toby Young's group have already said so publicly. It will be interesting to see what advice and support DfE can offer on this.

Best, Pascale

Alex Maclean said:
Dear Pascale,

Thank you so much for your offer of assistance. I will present your credentials to the group if you like. It may be a little early for a feasibility study as no site has been agreed yet. The crucial thing at the moment is establishing the ethos of the school, to determine whether the Free School route can deliver a school which supports the state sector.

I look forward to speaking further,

Alex

Permalink Reply by Pascale Scheurer on July 27, 2010 at 10:03

Hi Maurizio

Totally agree - it's very unclear whether/how the Free Schools process will support a new educational ethos.

This is the time to test and challenge the concept on many levels, push the boundaries and as you say, lobby for the changes we want to see.

Even if (with my cynical hat on) this is just a programme to privatise state education delivery (as was BSF to a large extent), some real and positive change may yet slip through the cracks before the new programme solidifies.

Pascale

Maurizio Fantato said:

it's really incredibly complex at the moment to create a school with a different ethos from a basic state institution.
Maurizio

Permalink Reply by Alex Maclean on July 28, 2010 at 16:14

By "supporting the state sector" I am referring to my own ambition for a local school, which I hope to be available to all within the area where there is currently a lack of provision. I am concerned that any potential new school does not drain resources from other Camden state schools. I have heard that the new Free Schools are supposed to augment the state sector (quite how I am not sure). That is what we are attempting to establish.

Six out of ten local schools have religious selection criteria and it is this ability to discriminate against local parents that is the main problem. If admittance was based on distance criteria alone the problem would not be nearly so acute. Therefore perhaps it is correct to say that a new Free School set up with open admission criteria (not religious or academic) would already be augmenting the state sector!

Permalink Reply by francis verity on August 14, 2010 at 12:17

Have a look at Human Scale Education, Summerhill, Dartington, and historically the White Lion Free school.

Alex Maclean said:

By "supporting the state sector" I am referring to my own ambition for a local school, which I hope to be available to all within the area where there is currently a lack of provision. I am concerned that any potential new school does not drain resources from other Camden state schools. I have heard that the new Free Schools are supposed to augment the state sector (quite how I am not sure). That is what we are attempting to establish.

Six out of ten local schools have religious selection criteria and it is this ability to discriminate against local parents that is the main problem. If admittance was based on distance criteria alone the problem would not be nearly so acute. Therefore perhaps it is correct to say that a new Free School set up with open admission criteria (not religious or academic) would already be augmenting the state sector!

Permalink Reply by Eleanor Sturdy on August 16, 2010 at 14:12

Hi Alex,
I'm very interested in your campaign, and in your experiences so far on getting going. I was really encouraged to see in your post that Camden are aware of the need, so that is a big step in the right direction, and supports your idea of augmenting the provision locally, since demand is so high.
I am personally very interested in the transition from primary schools to secondaries and how a new primary school could really support its children in getting ready for that move too - many 11 year-olds are at varying stages in their development but all are expected to step-up on arriving in Year 7, which sometimes causes difficulty.
As far as I know, the admissions code will allow you to use distance from school as one of your criteria, so that is also positive. (Wouldn't it be great to have a school where everyone walks?)
I am very close to Belsize Park and keen to get involved - meet for a coffee?
All the best, Eleanor

Permalink Reply by Pascale Scheurer on August 16, 2010 at 15:25

Hi Alex

I thought I'd just update you on our application for Hackney.

In the spirit of 'augmenting the state sector', and taking on board the various concerns over Free Schools, we have contacted the LEA and other local schools, and local MP and councillors (Labour and LibDem). Heated debates as you can imagine, but everyone agrees there is a severe shortage of places and the same issues around faith and single-sex schools abound. I believe it is possible for Free and 'wholly State' schools to work together for mutual benefit, if that is set out as part of the initial core objectives.

We are also getting advice from the Head of a Camden community secondary school who we've worked with for two years. Some parents who have been in touch with us live in Camden. It may be of use to share details with you at some point.

Has your application gone in to DfE yet? We are just awaiting NSN's comments on second draft before submission.

Best, Pascale

Permalink Reply by francis verity on August 16, 2010 at 20:15

Just to follow on from my previous comments - in nearly 40 years in education, inluding 7 as a (pre-ofsted) inspector, the reason why many of the primary schools I have known have been good is because of the Plowden report. It established what was and I suspect still is accepted as good primary education. Worth a look.