45-571: The West London Free School is an English free school for girls and boys aged 11 to 18. It was co-founded by Toby Young and opened in 2011. It is located in Hammersmith in west London and was the first free school of its type in England to sign a Funding Agreement with the Secretary of State for Education . The West London Free School offers children a classical liberal education and
90-539: A billing authority also collects precepts for Greater London Authority functions and business rates. It sets planning policies which complement Greater London Authority and national policies, and decides on almost all planning applications accordingly. It is a local education authority and is also responsible for council housing , social services, libraries, waste collection and disposal, traffic, and most roads and environmental health. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2014. The first election
135-583: A faith designation must allocate at least half of their places without regard to faith. Free schools are expected to offer a broad and balanced curriculum, are subject to the same Ofsted inspections as all other maintained schools and are expected to comply with standard performance measures. To set up a free school, founding groups submit applications to the Department for Education . Groups include those run by parents, education charities and religious groups. Start-up grants are provided to establish
180-496: A leaked document 'Future Academy System' prepared for schools minister Lord Nash , critics claimed that failing free schools were being given special fast-track attention by the government to limit potential embarrassment to Michael Gove, the Education Secretary at the time. The leaked document stated that the "political ramifications of any more free schools being judged inadequate are very high and speedy intervention
225-419: A neighbouring property, on the grounds that increased traffic to the area might threaten pupil safety. The school has been accused of being unrepresentative of the local community, but these charges have been denied by Young, saying that approximately 25 per cent of the pupils are on free school meals. Free school (England) A free school in England is a type of academy established since 2010 under
270-550: A school for disabled children in Palingswick House for at least 50 years. Opponents of free schools have also challenged perceived shortcomings in freedom of information access related to the development of free schools including the West London Free School. Peter Winter, the ex-headmaster of Latymer Upper School , criticised the proposal to base the West London Free School at Palingswick House,
315-471: A survey of a thousand parents. The Education Secretary accused free school opponents of subjecting supporters to personal attacks and even death threats. The Department for Education said that free schools were popular with parents. Figures released in 2013 showed that 90% of free schools were over-subscribed with an average of three pupils competing for each place. Critics pointed out that more than half of free schools opening in 2012 opened with 60% or less of
360-626: A tenth wave of free school applications to be submitted in October the same year. They also said that there would be further waves with closing dates in March and September each year for the rest of the Parliament. The Parliament had been expected to end in May 2020, but in the event it was dissolved on 3 May 2017. Between 2010 and 2015 more than 400 free schools were approved for opening in England by
405-521: Is a music specialist school, with more than half the pupils learning a musical instrument. Its production of Sweeney Todd in the summer of 2015 enjoyed a short, sell-out run at the Bush Theatre . The school was formally opened by Mayor of London Boris Johnson in September 2011 and is currently home to 600 pupils. It received over 1,000 applicants for its last 120 places in 2013, making it one of
450-476: Is at Hammersmith Town Hall on King Street, which was completed in 1939 for the old Hammersmith Borough Council. The building has been closed since 2019 whilst being refurbished as part of the development of a new 'Civic Campus' around it, which has included the demolition of the council's former main offices which had been built in front of the Town Hall in 1974/5. The Town Hall is due to reopen in 2024. Since
495-659: Is based on similar schools found in Sweden , Chile, New Zealand (an overlap between designated special character schools and partnership schools), Canada, and the United States. The concept has been compared to charter schools in Canada and the US. Free schools are subject to the same School Admissions Code as all other state-funded schools, although they are subject to the 50% Rule whereby oversubscribed free schools with
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#1732787157742540-456: Is essential." Polling in April 2015 put public support for Conservative proposals to increase the number of free schools by at least 500 at 26%. The 2015 Labour Party election manifesto proposed banning the creation of free schools in areas where there was a surplus of places. The free school concept has been described as a government obsession which should be abandoned as a failed experiment;
585-679: Is the local authority for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in Greater London , England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London . The council has been under Labour majority control since 2014. The council's usual meeting place is at Hammersmith Town Hall . The London Borough of Hammersmith (as it was originally named) and its council were created under the London Government Act 1963 , with
630-525: The Cameron–Clegg government's free school policy initiative. From May 2015, usage of the term was formally extended to include new academies set up via a local authority competition. Like other academies, free schools are non-profit-making, state-funded schools which are free to attend but which are mostly independent of the local authority . Like all academies, free schools are governed by non-profit charitable trusts that sign funding agreements with
675-1005: The Coalition Government , representing more than 230,000 school places across the country, and numbers have continued to grow since that time. As of June 2024 , more than 650 had opened, and a number were seeking sites in order to open. Sixty-six approved free schools had totally or partially closed, or failed to open entirely, by April 2018, at an estimated cost of almost £150m in startup costs and capital funding. In summer 2024 Parkfield School, an all-years school at Bournemouth Airport , announced its closure after failing to attract enough pupils to be viable. Unlike local authority maintained schools in England, but in common with other types of academy and with independent schools, free schools are allowed to employ teachers without Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). The Coalition government said this freedom enables "innovation, diversity and flexibility" and "the dynamism that characterises
720-657: The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition following the 2010 general election as part of the Big Society initiative to make it possible for parents, teachers, charities and businesses to set up their own schools. Free schools are an extension of the existing academies programme . The Academies Act 2010 , which allowed all existing state schools to become academies, also authorised the creation of free schools. The first 24 free schools opened in autumn 2011. The Education Act 2011 gave rise to
765-513: The Education Secretary . There are different model funding agreements for single academy trusts and multi academy trusts. It is possible for a local authority to sponsor a free school in partnership with other organisations, provided they have no more than a 19.9 per cent representation on the board of trustees. Studio schools and university technical colleges are both sub-types of free school. Free schools were introduced by
810-929: The West London Free School Primary was opened, starting with two Reception classes of 30 pupils each. In 2014, the West London Free School Academy Trust opened the Earls Court Free School Primary , which is currently co-located with the West London Free School Primary , but will move to Earls Court in 2020. In 2016, the Trust opened the Kensington Primary Academy . The secondary school is based at Palingswick House on King Street in Hammersmith. In May 2014
855-539: The academy/free school presumption ; Government advice which clarified that any local authority in need of a new school must in most circumstances seek proposals for an academy or free school, with a traditional community school only being allowed if no suitable free school or academy is proposed. In July 2015 the advice was renamed the free school presumption reflecting the fact that the newly elected Conservative Government regarded all new academies established after May 2015 as free schools. The free school concept
900-747: The Conservative Party, said that they would "create more local competition and drive-up standards". They also felt they would allow parents to have more choice in the type of education their child receives, much like parents who send their children to independent schools do. However, critics argued that the policy would benefit only middle-class parents with the time to set up free schools and that they would divert money away from existing schools. Supporters of free schools said that they would benefit children from all backgrounds. Some people were concerned that free schools are not obliged to cap their headteachers' pay. A review of available research on
945-647: The Swedish model that partially inspired the policy was published in a paper by Rebecca Allen. It concluded, "The econometric evidence on the effect of the reforms suggests that, so far, Swedish pupils do not appear to be harmed by the competition from private schools, but the new schools have not yet transformed educational attainment in Sweden." Peter Wilby, writing in The Guardian , predicted that free schools would be run by private companies rather than parents, teachers or voluntary groups. The New Schools Network
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#1732787157742990-637: The Trust purchased an office block on nearby Bridge Avenue for £9.25 million. This building is now Franklin House, the school's sixth form. Initially, the secondary school was based in Cambridge Grove, Hammersmith, before moving to its current location, with the West London Free School Primary and Earls Court Primary Free School also sharing the Cambridge Grove site. The school posted its first set of GCSE results in August, 2016. Seventy-seven per cent of
1035-628: The autumn of 2010, Education Secretary Michael Gove announced that 16 proposals for free schools had been given a green light by the Government and were expected to open in September 2011. This number eventually grew to 24. Five of the original 16 schools were faith schools : two Jewish, one Evangelical Anglican, one Hindu and one Sikh. Wave 2: In September 2012 the Department of Education announced 55 new free schools would open that month. Wave 3: The DfE received 234 applications for
1080-426: The best independent schools". The Labour Party have expressed their opposition to this and said that if elected they would require teachers in academies and free schools be "properly qualified". When the free school policy was first announced, some commentators offered advice to potential proposers, while others expressed scepticism that the concept could be made to work at all. Supporters of free schools, such as
1125-567: The boroughs (including Hammersmith and Fulham) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection . The Greater London Council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to the London Boroughs, with some services provided through joint committees. Hammersmith and Fulham became a local education authority in 1990 when the Inner London Education Authority
1170-470: The cohort is 5.9. In addition to criticism of the free school concept generally, the West London Free School was criticised in The Guardian for planning to make its permanent site Palingswick House in Hammersmith, a building then occupied by a number of community groups. Hammersmith MP Andy Slaughter added his voice to the criticism, arguing that "local people are against the plans", and stating that
1215-539: The council's borrowing powers. In 2021 the council was said by the Housing Ombudsman to be the worst performing landlord in the country with regard to damp and mould in its properties. The local authority derives its powers and functions from the London Government Act 1963 and subsequent legislation, and has the powers and functions of a London borough council. It sets council tax and as
1260-697: The council's full legal name has been "The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham", but it styles itself Hammersmith and Fulham Council. From 1965 until 1986 the council was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by the Greater London Council . The split of powers and functions meant that the Greater London Council was responsible for "wide area" services such as fire, ambulance, flood prevention , and refuse disposal ; with
1305-472: The first election held in 1964 . For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the area's two outgoing authorities, being the metropolitan borough councils of Fulham and Hammersmith . The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the old districts and their councils were abolished. The council changed the borough's from 'Hammersmith' to 'Hammersmith and Fulham' with effect from 1 April 1979. Since then,
1350-572: The funding arrangements for all maintained schools so that "schools in similar circumstances and with similar intakes receive similar levels of funding", whatever type of school they are. A warning by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) that the policy would "fuel social segregation and undermine local democracy" was reported in The Daily Telegraph . The NUT also said that free schools were neither wanted nor needed, based on
1395-516: The joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU) said in 2018: "The government should hang its head in shame at this monumental waste of taxpayers' money at a time when schools are severely underfunded". The centre-right think tank Policy Exchange said in 2015 that free schools affected the performance of the pupils in surrounding schools. Their assessment was that the results in low-performing schools located in
West London Free School - Misplaced Pages Continue
1440-476: The most oversubscribed taxpayer-funded schools in England in 2013. The building used had originally been the Elizabeth Burgwin School that had opened in 1964. The school's first headteacher was Thomas Packer, who served in post from September 2011 to December 2012, before becoming education director of the charitable trust that set up the school. Sam Naismith, a former England hockey coach,
1485-448: The period immediately following the 2015 General Election , with proposals being invited for submission from 8 May 2015. The Conservative Party manifesto for that election included a proposal for at least 500 further free schools. On 2 September 2015, it was announced that 18 applications had been successful in reaching Wave 9's pre-approval stage. Wave 10 and beyond: In July 2015, the recently elected Conservative Government invited
1530-792: The pupils obtained five GCSEs marked A* to C, including English and Mathematics. Thirty-eight per cent of all the GCSEs taken were marked A* or A, with 63% marked A* to B. In Mathematics, 85% of pupils achieved A* to C, with 37% getting A* or A. In English Literature, 79% of pupils achieved A* to C, with 44% getting A* or A. One hundred per cent of pupils who took all three sciences achieved A* to C, with 75% getting an average grade of A* or A. One hundred per cent of pupils who took Music achieved A* to C, with 57% getting A* or A. One hundred per cent of pupils who took Art achieved A* to C, with 33% getting A* or A. Ninety-five per cent of pupils who took RE achieved A* to C, with 67% getting A* or A. The Best Eight score for
1575-468: The same year, a further 35 schools were pre-approved for Wave 7. Wave 8: In January 2014, the Department for Education confirmed that there would be an eighth free school wave, with applications being accepted in the Autumn of 2014. The outcome was announced in March 2015, when it was confirmed that 49 applications had been pre-approved. Wave 9: In July 2014, a further funding round was announced for
1620-441: The school was "ousting 22 charities and a school for severely disabled children in its rush to open". In response, Toby Young pointed out that Palingswick House was listed for disposal by Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council long before the West London Free School came into existence and, had the school not subsequently bought it, it would likely have been sold off to a property developer and possibly demolished. There hasn't been
1665-455: The school's headteacher until April 2021. In April 2021, Ben McLaughlin and Robert Peal became joint headteachers The school was inspected by Ofsted in 2013 and 2017 and judged to be good. In 2013 it was reported that "the school's traditional, academic focus is popular with parents", despite the issues with leadership turnover and with school buildings. All pupils studied Latin until age 14, and were entered for eight academic GCSEs. In 2013
1710-506: The schools and ongoing funding is on an equivalent basis with other locally controlled state maintained schools . The majority of free schools are similar in size and shape to other types of academy . However, the following are distinctive sub-types of free school: The Department for Education publishes and maintains the list of established free schools and those that are due to be established. Free schools approvals are processed and announced in batches, known as 'waves'. Wave 1: In
1755-795: The student numbers predicted by the impact assessment documents of each institution, leaving more than 10% spare places. Analysis by the British Humanist Association in 2013 found that the majority of free school applications were from religious groups. The Catholic Education Service said that it would not open free schools because their admissions rules would only let them reserve 50% of places for children from Catholic families, unlike Voluntary Aided schools which can select up to 100% of places using faith criteria. Education Secretary Michael Gove said in 2011 he had ruled out religious fundamentalist groups being able to set up free schools. In April 2014, following publication of
1800-756: The third wave of free schools, of which 102 were approved to progress to the pre-opening stage. The schools were due to open in September 2013. Wave 4: Free schools wishing to open in September 2014 submitted proposals to the DfE in January 2013. In May 2013 it was announced that 102 schools had been approved. Waves 5,6,7: In March 2013, the Department for Education announced the application schedule for groups wishing to open free schools in 2015 and beyond. The Wave 5 pre-approvals were announced in January 2014, with 11 new schools being approved. Five months later another 38 were pre-approved for Wave 6, and in September of
1845-619: The vicinity of a free school out-performed similar schools that do not have a free school nearby, and also that free schools were eight times more likely to be in England's most deprived areas than the least deprived. The schools have proven to be unexpectedly expensive, with the government being taken to task for failure to do due diligence on sites and to publish an accounting of costs. Types of free school in addition to those designated "free school": Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council , which styles itself Hammersmith and Fulham Council ,
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1890-666: Was dissolved. Since 2000 the Greater London Authority has taken some responsibility for highways and planning control from the council, but within the English local government system the council remains a "most purpose" authority in terms of the available range of powers and functions. The council was involved in a landmark English administrative law case in 1991, Hazell v Hammersmith and Fulham LBC , which ruled that local authorities had no power to engage in interest rate swap agreements because they were beyond
1935-421: Was held in 1964, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1965. Political control of the council since 1965 has been as follows: The role of Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council . The leaders since 1965 have been: The council's usual meeting place
1980-400: Was subsequently set up to help groups develop the skills needed to set up free schools. Paul Carter, a Conservative councillor , pointed out that under the funding arrangements in place at the time, "the more academies and Free Schools you operate, under the current academy funding arrangements, the less [money] maintained schools would get." Subsequently, the Department for Education changed
2025-486: Was then Headteacher from January 2013 until May 2014. Dame Sally Coates, ex-principal of Burlington Danes Academy , looked after the school, alongside David Stanton, while a permanent head was chosen. Hywel Jones was appointed as headteacher from September 2014 to December 2017. Hywel Jones was formerly an assistant headteacher at St. Mary's Catholic School in Bishop’s Stortford . In January 2018, Clare Wagner became
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