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Page 1 of 3 Next » | | Free schools - a spirited debate07/06/10
The Tories vision of free schools, which was also addressed in the Queen's speech, has dominated headlines recently. The scheme, based on the Swedish system, allows parents, charities, trusts, commercial companies and other providers to set up local schools funded by the state.
Naturally with an idea of such magnitude opinions are split. Will it materialise to be a positive change for the education sector or is it a detrimental move?
The argument for
Those that back the free schools idea, such as education secretary, Michael Gove are of the opinion that it gives power to the people by allowing schools to be separate from local authority control. They are even permitted to design their own curriculums and determine the pay structure. Through reallocating such responsibility it is believed that teachers will be provided with more flexibility and freedom from existing bureaucracy, while parents should benefit from a greater choice of schools for their children.
It has also been argued that the concept encourages the creation of more innovative and dynamic schools; something that the industry is always striving for, right?
Free schools are open to sponsors too, which raises some interesting issues. For instance, if a commercial company supported more than one school then economies of scale are potentially achievable. It has even been implied that if supported by a commercial brand, schools could actually benefit from the brand value.
The question is of course whether these so called benefits outweigh the negatives that people opposing the concept are stressing.
The argument against
Those with reservations about the concept believe that the outsourcing of public education to private, profit-driven companies is a recipe for disaster and will create issues that are damaging to education as a whole as well as undermining local government.
Even the Swedish education minister, Bertil Ostberg has condemned free schools and as a stark warning to Britain, has declared them a failure. On a similar note, Ed Balls, the former secretary of state for children, schools and families, fears that free schools will poach high achieving students and teachers which will cause a setback for education and consequently "turn out to be deeply, deeply unfair." Would this widen the gap between the wealthy and underprivileged yet further?
As a potentially expensive proposal, the lack of current funding has also been highlighted as an issue. Other capital programmes may be subject to cuts in order to reallocate funds. Therefore those who are sceptical about the idea feel it is difficult to justify new schools when it is necessary to siphon money from other important projects.
Just last week Michael Gove stated that companies would be free to make money from schools. So is it possible that free schools could open the flood gates to inappropriate sponsors attracted by potential profits? Would a global fast food company be considered a suitable sponsor?
Whether you are for or against free schools, it is certainly raising interesting issues and generating a lively debate amongst those of us in the education sector and beyond. |
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