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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| First 16 'free schools' details set out | First 16 'free schools' details set out |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Details of the first 16 'free schools' to be set up under the coalition government have been given by Education Secretary Michael Gove. | Details of the first 16 'free schools' to be set up under the coalition government have been given by Education Secretary Michael Gove. |
| Half of the schools are in Conservative-run areas, seven are in Greater London and at least five are faith schools. | Half of the schools are in Conservative-run areas, seven are in Greater London and at least five are faith schools. |
| Mr Gove said the schools, which are state funded but outside of local authority control, had all been driven by demand from local people. | Mr Gove said the schools, which are state funded but outside of local authority control, had all been driven by demand from local people. |
| They could be open by September 2011. | They could be open by September 2011. |
| Legislation to allow parents, charities and businesses to set up these schools was passed before Parliament broke up for the summer. | Legislation to allow parents, charities and businesses to set up these schools was passed before Parliament broke up for the summer. |
| 'Delighted' | 'Delighted' |
| But Labour MPs said the proposals were flawed and "rushed through", and several Lib Dem MPs expressed misgivings about its impact on existing schools. | But Labour MPs said the proposals were flawed and "rushed through", and several Lib Dem MPs expressed misgivings about its impact on existing schools. |
| Critics have claimed that niche schools, that are expensive to run, will spring up in wealthy areas and drain resources from existing schools. | |
| Several schools on the list represent specific interest groups (full list below). There are two Jewish schools, one Sikh and one Hindu school. | |
| Two primary schools, The Childcare Company, Slough, and a Montessori proposal - Discovery New School in West Sussex - are being promoted by childcare providers. | |
| The Free School in Norwich is being set up by a group of parents and teachers, and includes proposals offering increased flexibility for working parents. | |
| A village school run independently by a charity in Warwickshire has also got the green light. | |
| The West London Free School, being promoted by a group of parents including the journalist Toby Young, has also won outline approval as has the group of parents pushing for Stour Valley Community School in Suffolk. | |
| Mr Gove said: "I am delighted that so many promising proposals have come forward at such an early stage. | Mr Gove said: "I am delighted that so many promising proposals have come forward at such an early stage. |
| "I hope that many of the projects progressing today will become the first free schools in September 2011. | "I hope that many of the projects progressing today will become the first free schools in September 2011. |
| "This is a challenging timescale, and some groups may decide that it is preferable to open at a later date for practical reasons." | "This is a challenging timescale, and some groups may decide that it is preferable to open at a later date for practical reasons." |
| He added that each group would now be given support from the Department for Education. | He added that each group would now be given support from the Department for Education. |
| 'Demand meagre' | |
| But final approval would only be given after officials had approved a final business case, he said. | But final approval would only be given after officials had approved a final business case, he said. |
| On Sunday, Mr Gove defended the free schools policy, saying that the number of early applications had exceeded his hopes. | On Sunday, Mr Gove defended the free schools policy, saying that the number of early applications had exceeded his hopes. |
| 'Niche schools' | |
| |
| More than 700 groups had initially expressed interest in the idea and about 100 had actually applied. | More than 700 groups had initially expressed interest in the idea and about 100 had actually applied. |
| Many of those interested in the scheme were teachers at existing schools in deprived areas who wanted to transform educational standards, he said. | Many of those interested in the scheme were teachers at existing schools in deprived areas who wanted to transform educational standards, he said. |
| Labour say demand for free schools - state funded institutions outside local authority control - is meagre and the government's priorities are wrong. | Labour say demand for free schools - state funded institutions outside local authority control - is meagre and the government's priorities are wrong. |
| "It is laughable for Michael Gove to claim that just 16 free schools opening next year exceeds his expectations," shadow education secretary Ed Balls said. | "It is laughable for Michael Gove to claim that just 16 free schools opening next year exceeds his expectations," shadow education secretary Ed Balls said. |
| "He has spent the last four months working on a plan for just a dozen schools, while cancelling hundreds of new schools and dashing the hopes of 700,000 children." | "He has spent the last four months working on a plan for just a dozen schools, while cancelling hundreds of new schools and dashing the hopes of 700,000 children." |
| On Sunday, Mr Gove said he wanted to introduce an "English baccalaureate" that would give recognition for students gaining good GCSEs in a broad range of subjects. | On Sunday, Mr Gove said he wanted to introduce an "English baccalaureate" that would give recognition for students gaining good GCSEs in a broad range of subjects. |
| Those who got A* to C grades in a language, a science and a humanities discipline, like history or music, in addition to English and maths would qualify for the qualification. | Those who got A* to C grades in a language, a science and a humanities discipline, like history or music, in addition to English and maths would qualify for the qualification. |
| Details will be given in an education white paper this autumn, but Mr Gove said it would focus on giving children a broader education and a "core body of knowledge". | Details will be given in an education white paper this autumn, but Mr Gove said it would focus on giving children a broader education and a "core body of knowledge". |
| The 16 free schools listed are: | |
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