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'Free schools' invitations issued 'Free schools' invitations issued
(40 minutes later)
By Angela Harrison Education correspondent, BBC News Michael Gove says the changes will drive up standards for allBy Angela Harrison Education correspondent, BBC News Michael Gove says the changes will drive up standards for all
The government in England is setting out how parents, teachers, charities and other groups can apply to set up their own "free school".The government in England is setting out how parents, teachers, charities and other groups can apply to set up their own "free school".
Free schools will be independent but funded by central government.Free schools will be independent but funded by central government.
Ministers will launch an online guide saying groups must set out demand from parents, the school's aims, curriculum, teaching methods and possible sites. Groups will have to set out demand from parents, the school's aims, curriculum, teaching methods and possible sites.
Education Secretary Michael Gove says the schools will help close the achievement gap between rich and poor and will be closed if they fail.
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) says the free market policy will create "chaos" at a local level.The National Union of Teachers (NUT) says the free market policy will create "chaos" at a local level.
The free schools scheme is one of the two key plans set to change the shape of England's schools system.The free schools scheme is one of the two key plans set to change the shape of England's schools system.
The other is the academies programme, where good schools are being encouraged to opt out of local authority control.The other is the academies programme, where good schools are being encouraged to opt out of local authority control.
Some schools are due to convert to academies in the autumn. The government expects the first of the new breed of "free schools" to open in September 2011. Some schools are due to convert to academies in the autumn.
The government says 720 groups have expressed an interest in starting schools - half of them teachers. The government expects the first of the new breed of "free schools" to open in September 2011.
It says 720 groups have expressed an interest in starting schools - half of them teachers.
Education Secretary Michael Gove says the schools are a way of raising achievement in areas where local authority-run schools are not providing a good quality education.Education Secretary Michael Gove says the schools are a way of raising achievement in areas where local authority-run schools are not providing a good quality education.
He says a similar system has helped to improve dramatically the education of children in some cities in the USA. He says a similar system has helped to improve dramatically the education of poorer children in some cities in the USA.
"In America, some of the most successful schools that have been set up have been set up by teachers."In America, some of the most successful schools that have been set up have been set up by teachers.
"We have been joined by teachers from the state sector who want to branch out and set up their own schools and they particularly want to target the disadvantaged."We have been joined by teachers from the state sector who want to branch out and set up their own schools and they particularly want to target the disadvantaged.
"They want to make sure that the achievement gap is closed.""They want to make sure that the achievement gap is closed."
Speaking on the Today programme on BBC Radio Four, Mr Gove said the main motivating factor behind the programme was to close the attainment gap. Speaking on the Today programme on BBC Radio Four, Mr Gove said the main motivating factor behind the programme was the desire to close the attainment gap.
"We have one of the most stratified systems in the world," he said. "We have one of the most segregated, stratified school systems in the developed world," he said.
Mr Gove said the schools would be monitored by England's schools inspectors Ofsted and would face closure if they failed.
"If a school fails, the funding agreement will be withdrawn and the school will be closed," he said.
"I am not anticipating failure. I am anticipating success."
A new body called the New Schools Network has been set up to advise groups on how to set up schools.A new body called the New Schools Network has been set up to advise groups on how to set up schools.
It links groups to "education providers", who would set up trusts to do the day-day running of the schools. It links groups to "education providers", including charities and private companies, who would set up trusts to organise the day-day running of the schools.
In most cases, parents themselves might play a role on a new school's governing body but would not be involved in the teaching or the running of a school. In most cases, parents themselves might play a role on a new school's governing body but would not be involved in teaching or the running of a school.
In the second stage of the application process, groups would need to have a full business plan, setting out the school's financial viability. Later on Friday the government will launch an online guide for groups wanting to set up a school.
This will need to demonstrate demand from parents, set out the aims and ethos of their proposed school as well as the curriculum and teaching methods.
They will also need to have ear-marked possible sites for the school.
In the second stage of the application process, groups would need a full business plan, setting out the school's financial viability.
SwedenSweden
Groups wanting to set up schools would have to comply with all aspects of "rigorous suitability and vetting tests", the government says, including CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checks. They would have to comply with all aspects of "rigorous suitability and vetting tests", the government says, including CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checks.
Free schools will not have to follow the national curriculum but will need to provide an education that is "broad and balanced", in the same way as new academies will.Free schools will not have to follow the national curriculum but will need to provide an education that is "broad and balanced", in the same way as new academies will.
The scheme is similar to the Charter Schools programme in the USA and the system in Sweden, where non-profit and profit-making groups can set up schools - funded by the government but free from its control.The scheme is similar to the Charter Schools programme in the USA and the system in Sweden, where non-profit and profit-making groups can set up schools - funded by the government but free from its control.
NUT general secretary Christine Blower said: "Rather than providing opportunities to all parents, it will privilege the few at the expense of the many.NUT general secretary Christine Blower said: "Rather than providing opportunities to all parents, it will privilege the few at the expense of the many.
"Despite reassurances from Michael Gove that 'free' schools would not be run for profit, there is the strong possibility under this system that governing bodies could increasingly contract out the running of schools to private companies in return for management fees."Despite reassurances from Michael Gove that 'free' schools would not be run for profit, there is the strong possibility under this system that governing bodies could increasingly contract out the running of schools to private companies in return for management fees.
"Adopting such a business model to our schools will amount to the sweeping dismantling of our education system, turning it over to unaccountable, unelected companies.""Adopting such a business model to our schools will amount to the sweeping dismantling of our education system, turning it over to unaccountable, unelected companies."
Would you like to set up a "free school"? Send us your comments using the form below.Would you like to set up a "free school"? Send us your comments using the form below.