The county of Suffolk has approximately 10,600 vacant school places, meaning that there is ample room for every child in the area to have a place should they require one. However, the Department for Education has approved four free schools to be set up in the county, with two further schools expected. This has resulted in what campaigners are referring to as "The Suffolk Free School scandal", whereby the county has become a battleground for the Secretary of Education Michael Gove’s policy. The campaign has focused on the school scheme as being both unwanted and unnecessary and will result in millions of pounds being wasted from kitting out the new schools. The campaigners have said they do not object to free schools, yet they are questioning the reasons for the approvals and, unfortunately, freedom of information requests have been refused, preventing campaigners from accessing crucial information. In some cases, however, documents have been released after approval has been granted. The Information Commissioner has deemed that the Department for Education must now publish lists of free school proposals but mystery still surrounds how these bids are evaluated. The majority of the free school proposals are being driven by the Seckford Foundation. The Foundation owns a fee-paying school and several residential care homes located in the area. The Foundation is also being assisted by a current council reorganisation, in which a three-tier schooling system will now be replaced with a two-tier structure. This has made some school buildings vacant, which is now surprisingly being considered a reason to construct more free schools. Seckford’s has organised roughly 37 students to attend one of the free schools. However, in response to strong opposition, the Foundation has advertised free uniforms and school meals, as well as giving an iPod touch to attract more pupils away from competitors. The project has been condemned by approximately 3,000 local residents and Head of Sir John Leman High School, Beccles, has called for the Seckford foundation to withdraw its free school plan from the area. He has accused the government of giving around £2m in funding for the school, which will only host 37 pupils. However, Rowe went on to declare a victory, celebrating the fact that 97% of parents displayed confidence in their local school.
The way in which free schools are being approved across the country is raising concerns among others. According to a report from the Royal Society of Arts, there appears to be no clear plan as to where free schools are being established. The report describes them as an "unguided missile" in the education sector. However, the Department for Education (DfE) insists that the goal of the policy is to offer more choices to parents, not to undermine current schools. The procedure of approving or denying a free school is entirely transparent, according to a DfE spokesman. Additionally, parents should have the freedom to select the school that best suits their child’s needs.
In terms of the Beccles free school, Graham Watson, the director of the Seckford Foundation, is confident that pupil numbers will increase in the coming weeks as more parents choose the free school. The National Union of Teachers is unhappy with Education Secretary’s refusal to release estimates regarding the possible effects on local schools. It has asked the Information Commissioner to have the assessments released.
Meanwhile, the Local Schools Network is keeping a close eye on the situation regarding free schools. Fiona Millar, one of the founders, has expressed growing concern, stating that the criteria for establishing free schools are unclear. They are also unsure how decisions are made. The DfE’s current policies are creating a survival of the fittest situation. This has been established to promote competition and enhance the quality of education. However, the DfE continues to maintain that it wants to increase the number of free schools despite opposition.
The Beccles free school decision has been disastrous for the government’s education policy. For Rowe, it is utter hypocrisy to propose that this was completed for any other reason than political ideology. The government is prepared to finance pet projects to make them appear to be successful, disregarding local opposition and ignoring the country’s struggling economy.
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