Bid for £20m ‘free school’ at Barrack Road site under fire

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Bid for £20 million ‘free school’ at Barrack Road site in Northampton comes under fire

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Early plans for a £20 million educational complex in the centre of Northampton came under scrutiny yesterday as councillors quizzed the credentials of building a ‘free’ school on the site.

The proposals to build a secondary school at the former Royal Mail sorting offices on Barrack Road could accommodate up to 1,800 pupils. It would also feature a sixth form and would have further scope to develop a primary school at the site.

But speaking at yesterday’s Northamptonshire County Council cabinet meeting Councillor Danielle Stone (Lab, Abbington and Phippsville) feared the authority would be making a mistake by designating the secondary school element of the plan as a ‘free school’.

She said: “Free schools are certainly not free – we pay for them with taxpayers money.

“But what they are free from is accountability.”

She highlighted a recent survey which suggested free schools are being given poor Ofsted inspections at three times the rate of ordinary state facilities, adding: “We need to raise serious questions over the viability of us being part of this Government experiment.

“Is this something people actually want?”

Free schools, championed by Education Secretary Michael Gove, do not have to employ qualified teaching staff and do not have to adhere to other state school regulations such as having a staff room or playground, Councillor Stone said.

A county council report says a ‘high quality’ sponsor will be sought by the Department for Education for the free school, with the expectation that interested parties will submit their proposals in September 2014.

Other concerns were raised about traffic problems the town centre school might cause and whether it could adequately accommodate the amount of parking needed.

But most comments were in favour of the scheme.

Liberal Democrats leader at County Hall Brendan Glynane (Delapre and Rushmere), said: “I’m pleased we are looking for a high quality sponsor for this school and I think it is in the right place.”

Leader of the authority Councillor Jim Harker (Con, ISE), said: “It is another element of the Northampton Alive program. It’s the county council making a major investment into out town centre.”