A BID for the city’s first secondary free school has been unveiled by teachers who said it would offer a more “rigorous”
education.
The teachers leading the bid, which if successful could see the school open in Oxford in 2017, are assistant headteachers at journalist Toby Young’s free school in West London.
Calling themselves Powerful Education, the teachers and parents say Oxford City Free School will have an emphasis on grammar and languages for pupils aged 11-18.
Spokeswoman Sara Fernandez said: “This school would be something that brings choice to the parents of Oxford.
“It’s a school that would focus fully on academic subjects, not vocational qualifications,” she added. The school would take 120 pupils every year and would start with years 3 and 4.
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It’s being led by Laura Mathews and Wade Nottingham, assistant headteachers at the West London Free School, the first secondary free school in London which launched in 2011.
Journalist Toby Young, who set up the free school in London, supported the idea of a similar school in Oxford, adding: “Dr Nottingham and Ms Mathews are both excellent teachers who are absolutely committed to the founding idea of the West London Free School, which is that all children can benefit from a classical liberal education, regardless of background or ability.
“The pupils at our school have benefitted enormously from their energy and enthusiasm.”
Powerful Education officially launches on Friday with information evenings planned for parents across the city.
Miss Fernandez said: “Oxford’s university education is outstanding and the same standards should already be in state education.
“Having more freedom in the curriculum is important for us and students to focus on foreign languages. Latin and a modern foreign language will be compulsory for the first three years and English grammar will be taught as a separate discipline.”
She added that the school is needed to cope with the rising demand for school places.
But county council spokesman Paul Smith said: “We’re not expecting any shortfall of places by 2017 and we have plans in place to meet anticipated demand.
“The county council supports the idea of academies or free schools. The only caveat would be to say that we prefer to see free schools located in parts of the county where there is demand to be met and where there will not be a consequent negative impact on existing schools.”
Miss Fernandez said they’d submit an application to the Department for Education at the end of May. If that was successful they’d work with both councils to find a location.
Oxfordshire already has three free schools – Tyndale Community School in Cowley, Europa School in Culham, and Heyford Park Free School in Upper Heyford – but this would be the first secondary.
Headteacher at secondary school Cherwell School Paul James said he was disappointed in some of the claims made by those behind the new school.
He said: “Our hope would be that the Government will spend money allowing us to expand because we’re over-subscribed rather than spending millions on a new free school.”
Europa’s principal Peter Ashbourne said: “We have been over-subscribed since the day we opened. We’re adding another reception class in September which will bring us up to 360 pupils.
He refused to comment on the plans for a new free school, but said: “It’s clear that the area is developing. There are going to be more young families coming in with children. We have got to meet that need. Free schools are an efficient way of doing that.”
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