Free schools for Scotland ?

" 'STATE-FUNDED autonomous schools'; 'meeting the needs of local communities'; making Scotland a 'world leader' once more. The rhetoric certainly sounds good, but - when it comes to recently revealed plans for a new schooling model in Scotland - it is also deeply dishonest because, although those behind this campaign are eager to avoid the 'baggage' of reality, the correct term for their plans is very simple: 'free schools'."

"Why the reluctance to be up front and honest? Because we already know that the Free School model is designed to serve right-wing ideology, not communities, a fact underlined by such schools forming a key part of Michael Gove’s educational reforms south of the border."

"The idea was largely inspired by the introduction of the same model in Sweden, with Gove offering public support as far back as 2008. We now know that the quality of Swedish education has suffered a devastating decline since free schools became a part of their education system, while serious problems have also been encountered not just in England, but also in America (where charter schools follow a similar model)."

"Supporters of such a change in the UK tend to argue that this new set-up devolves far more power to communities, but this conveniently overlooks the fact that the education secretary would have to assume ultimate responsibility for individual institutions, thus transferring power from local authorities to central government. No matter how you spin it that's a bizarre approach to localism."

"And it gets worse: as Commonspace has now revealed, proposals currently on the table would allow headteachers to set their own employment policies (destroying national pay bargaining arrangements for teachers) and decide which organisations, including profit-making businesses, play a role in the school’s educational provision."

"There is also talk of effectively privatising, through a tendering process, areas such as sporting activities and art education. The schools themselves may not be allowed to make a profit, but plenty of vested interests will profit through their existence."

https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/3160/james-mcenaney-beware-of-the-free-school-model-creeping-up-on-Scotland

The Hometown Foundation is a Scottish registered charity which is working to push through this policy.

http://hometown.co.uk/aboutus