Boris promises to build on the success of ‘free schools’

BORIS Johnson last night vowed to create thousands more classroom places.

In a major new policy pledge, the Prime Minister said he will expand the network of “free schools” pioneered by the Tory-led government.

He urged parents, education campaigners and community groups to set up new free schools in a drive to improve choice and raise standards.

Since being launched by Michael Gove in 2010, more than 500 free schools have been set up, catering for around 133,000 pupils.

Ministers now hope to approve applications for up to 30 new schools after the Prime Minister last week pledged to invest more than £14billion in primary and secondary education by 2022/23. Ahead of a visit to a London primary school today, Mr Johnson said: “Every child should have access to a good school place, no matter their background or where they live.

“Free schools help to ensure children are getting the best education possible.

“I want to see even more of these excellent schools open, particularly in areas most in need of more good and outstanding school places.”

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson added: “Our reforms have backed the innovative and trailblazing school leaders who are running great schools up and down the country.

“I want to harness that expertise and use it in the areas where there is still more to do.” More than 40 per cent of free schools are located in deprived communities and 18 per cent are dedicated to special needs children.

Of those inspected by Ofsted, 84 per cent have been rated good or outstanding.

But Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, accused the Government of “throwing taxpayers’ money at its pet project”.

She said: “The most sensible way to get new school places in the areas that most need them is to allow local authorities to establish new maintained schools and to give them the legal powers to instruct academies and free schools to expand where they have the capacity to do so.”