Holgate ‘free school’ bid moves on (From York Press)

Holgate ‘free school’ bid moves on

7:40am Saturday 4th September 2010 in

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THE application to create a new secondary school in York has been submitted to the Department Of Education.

A steering group of parents and teachers has been involved in drafting plans for a so-called “free school” in Holgate.

With the application submitted, the group hopes to find out in only five or six weeks whether the proposals have been accepted and the dream will become a reality.

Tim Moat, who was one of the original members of the steering group, said: “We have had overwhelming support. Virtually all parents we have spoken to like the idea of additional choice in Holgate and thanks to the efforts of a group of seven local teachers – all with different backgrounds – we have come up with an educational vision which we think most parents would approve of.”

Initially the school, which it is hoped will open in September 2012, would have an intake of about 30 pupils to the first year. It would then keep on adding year groups as each year passed.

Children would be taught the national curriculum by two core teachers with part-time, specialist teachers being employed for subjects which the core tutors were not familiar with.

It has not yet been revealed where the school, which would have a Holgate catchment area, would be based, but Mr Moat said the options available would be made public if the Government approved the application.

Plans for free schools are a flagship Government policy, the idea being that parents set up and run their own schools. The schools would have state funding and be staffed by professional teachers, but would be independent of local authority control. Regarding the applications Mr Moat said: “As a steering group we are confident we have presented a strong case and we look forward to a positive outcome.”

For more information visit yorkfreeschool.org.uk