"Free schools" in the UK

[Twoflower]

WTF is this shit?

[Rum]

WTF is this shit?

It is one of our new government's wonderful ideas. Parents and others now have the ability to start their own 'free schools' out of the control of people like me. So fundies, for example, can teach their kids what they like, within certain limitations.

[Thinking Aloud]

WTF is this shit?

It is one of our new government's wonderful ideas. Parents and others now have the ability to start their own 'free schools' out of the control of people like me. So fundies, for example, can teach their kids what they like, within certain limitations.

But you're usually so against authority, Rum!

[Rum]

WTF is this shit?

It is one of our new government's wonderful ideas. Parents and others now have the ability to start their own 'free schools' out of the control of people like me. So fundies, for example, can teach their kids what they like, within certain limitations.

But you're usually so against authority, Rum!

I exercise mine with a great deal of sensitivity and liberality.

...but I would say that wouldn't I? :twisted:

[Thinking Aloud]

WTF is this shit?

It is one of our new government's wonderful ideas. Parents and others now have the ability to start their own 'free schools' out of the control of people like me. So fundies, for example, can teach their kids what they like, within certain limitations.

But you're usually so against authority, Rum!

I exercise mine with a great deal of sensitivity and liberality.

...but I would say that wouldn't I? :twisted:

Rum for President!

[JimC]

There are some parallels in Australia, with the "Christian School" movement getting government funding with rather questionable adherence to normal curriculum standards...

[floppit]

I'm quite interested if they will remain compelled to take kids in care. A sad reality about our lovely culture is that until we forced schools to take looked after kids large numbers of them floated around without schools, most, at some point in their many moves life, were left without a school to attend. If a new 'free school' ticks the box for an area will there be guaranteed state coverage as well?

[quisquose]

The woo is very strong in the Tories, and to be honest they scare the shit out of me.

David Cameron tells us he wants more faith schools. Hip, hip, fucking hooray.

Look at their voting on important issues, where you can imagine somebody infected with Woo might be moved by his/her imaginary friend to vote the wrong way, and you will see that the Tories are very dangerous indeed.

Take a look at the voting on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill last May for example:

http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.p ... number=192

Oh dear.

[Rum]

I'm quite interested if they will remain compelled to take kids in care. A sad reality about our lovely culture is that until we forced schools to take looked after kids large numbers of them floated around without schools, most, at some point in their many moves life, were left without a school to attend. If a new 'free school' ticks the box for an area will there be guaranteed state coverage as well?

This is a case of the left and right hand not knowing and also the law of unintended consequences. Also of one piece of government policy clashing with another.

Schools are judged, bottom line, by their exam results. On the whole the better they are the more the inspectors forgive shortcomings in other areas.
They know that looked after kids, kids with special needs and kids with behaviour difficulties will bring down their overall results. And yet other government legislation pushes them to take these kids! It is bizarre.

The Tories are going to loosen the rules which make schools take the kids with more specialist needs. That may well include looked after kids.

[Flora]

I'll support anything that will make education better for children / teenagers. I really don't care about the politics or power bases as long as ALL youngsters have the opportunity to receive a first class education. This new initiative isn't currently enthusing me with the promise of better education for all. If it does, I'll back it but I have serious reservations about its ability to provide anything better than the status quo and even worse, it's worrying me that it could result in underfunded education for the most needy.

I don't agree with everything that Fiona Millar says about education but I thought this article made some good points:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... t-children

[The Dawktor]

Bloody Hell!

What could possibly go wrong??????

[Pappa]

I heard them talking about Free Schools before the erection... I had some major concerns that this would happen.