News

Pressure on school places in South West London eased as free school applications approved

Summary:

The schools will open from September 2014.

Image:

By SWLondoner staff

Pressure on school places across South West London has been eased today as new free school applications were approved.

Education Secretary Michael Gove approved 102 new free school applications to open in 2014 and beyond, 10 of which are in South West London.

In Lambeth, the National Autistic Society will open a free school for 78 pupils, building on their first free school set to open in Reading this September.

Mr Gove said the applications showed that many people in local communities were set on raising standards of education for their children.

“I am delighted to approve so many of their high-quality plans to open a free school,” he said.

“Free schools are extremely popular with parents and are delivering strong discipline and teaching excellence across the country.”

Free schools, which are state-funded but independent of local authority control, are increasing in popularity, with 81 already open across the country.

The schools are run by teachers who have the freedom to decide the length of the school day and term, the curriculum and how to spend their money.

The government said that more than half of the mainstream free schools announced today are expected to be located in the 50% most deprived communities in the country.

Other planned free schools in South West London include:

Burlington Danes Primary Academy, Hammersmith & Fulham (Primary)

The Earls Court Primary School, Hammersmith & Fulham (Primary)

Harris Invictus Free School, Croydon (Secondary)

Paxton Academy Sports and Science, Croydon (Primary)

The Advance School, Norbury (Primary)

Raynes Park Community School, Merton  (Primary)

The North Kingston Secondary School, Kingston (Secondary)

Trinity Academy, Lambeth (Secondary)

Turing House School, Richmond (Secondary)

Photo courtesy of Regional Cabinet, with thanks.

Follow us @SW_Londoner

Related Articles