With the autumn term now well under way thousands of pupils are settling down to a new experience of learning – in Free Schools.

With greater freedom than their local authority counterparts they can determine choice over a range of areas such as the length of the school day, the curriculum and how they spend their money.

As the first 24 opened their doors the government was still defending the initiative, insisting that the schools are central to the drive to raise school standards across the country.

Raising educational standards

Michael Gove says that international evidence shows that giving teachers and heads the kind of increased freedom they will have in Free School classrooms helps to raise standards of education.

He cites Charter schools in New York, which are similar to Free Schools, that have been shown dramatically to close the gap separating inner-city neighbourhood students from those of the wealthiest suburbs – by 86 per cent in maths and 66 per cent in English.

Similarly, Charter schools in Chicago close the achievement gap between disadvantaged inner-city public school students and middle-income students in suburban districts by half. This is despite the fact that these students entered the Charter Schools achieving lower scores on average than their public school peers.

Focus on eliminating effects of deprivation

The government says the schools are opening because of demand from parents for more schools, smaller classes or alternative forms of education. Of the schools opened so far in England 12 are located in the most deprived 30 per cent of communities in the country. Currently, 15 are in areas where there is basic need for school places.

The Coalition Government recently announced radical plans to change the school Admissions Code to allow Free Schools and Academies to prioritise the most disadvantaged children (those eligible for Free School Meals) in their school admissions. With children eligible for Free School Meals attracting additional funding through the Coalition’s Pupil Premium – worth £430 per pupil this year – there will be even more incentive for these schools to attract those pupils most in need of the high-quality education they will offer.

“These schools offer smaller class sizes, tougher discipline, longer days and higher standards,” said Mr Gove. “They give parents more choice. And they force existing schools to raise their game.”

People behind the Free Schools

It is expected that the first Free Schools will create more than 9,000 new state-funded school places. The list of schools on the government’s education website shows that 17 of those opened so far are primary schools, five are secondary schools and two are all-age schools. Six are faith schools.

Five are set up by teachers, eight are set up by parent or community groups, five are set up by existing education providers, and one by an Academy. Five existing schools will also become Free Schools.

Point of comment: We would like to hear comments from any tutors who may be part of an application for a Free School or working at one. What are your thoughts on topic?