The announcement of a new primary school to be built in the grounds of Ashmole Academy and designated a ‘free’ school is to be welcomed, given the urgent need for more school places in the area. It’s just a shame that due to Government ideology it will be one more school outside council control.
Both academies and free schools are controlled by central rather than local government, and their providers decide the curriculum, admissions policy and whether to employ unqualified teachers with no formal teaching experience.
I expect the new school will be fine, and it is, unlike some, being built where the need is great, but each new school outside council control makes the job of education planning more of a nightmare.
Under the current ludicrous regulations, the council could not have built this school itself – new schools must be academies or free schools.
Therefore, while agreeing that more local primary school places are needed, I do regret that this new school provides us with yet another example of this Government’s continued love affair with policies of privatisation.
Jean Robertson-Molloy
Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Green Party Enfield Southgate
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