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Spend, spend, spend: the chaotic world of Michael Gove's free schools Spend, spend, spend: the chaotic world of Michael Gove's free schools
(2 days later)
A strange coincidence, isn't it, that so many Liberal Democrats are suddenly howling about Michael Gove's education policies less than two weeks from elections in which they face likely wipe-out? But let's set that aside: cynicism is never the most constructive impulse; and besides, what the Lib Dems are affecting to be so dismayed about is worthy of their pain.A strange coincidence, isn't it, that so many Liberal Democrats are suddenly howling about Michael Gove's education policies less than two weeks from elections in which they face likely wipe-out? But let's set that aside: cynicism is never the most constructive impulse; and besides, what the Lib Dems are affecting to be so dismayed about is worthy of their pain.
The free schools programme may have started in a flurry of attractive talk about parents being integrally involved in new schools and the need to move faster than the often sclerotic pace of local government. But it seems to be turning into a veritable monster – thanks not just to the cosy relationships between Whitehall and the vested interests we must now call "education providers" but also to a department that seems to be pursuing its visions at all costs.The free schools programme may have started in a flurry of attractive talk about parents being integrally involved in new schools and the need to move faster than the often sclerotic pace of local government. But it seems to be turning into a veritable monster – thanks not just to the cosy relationships between Whitehall and the vested interests we must now call "education providers" but also to a department that seems to be pursuing its visions at all costs.
To quote the "senior government source" whose words have been all over the media for the past two days, free schools are indeed "driven by a somewhat ideologically obsessed" secretary of state; and even if the word "lunacy" might be a bit strong, to be filling a hole in the free schools budget by taking £400m earmarked for urgently needed school places looks suspect, to say the least.To quote the "senior government source" whose words have been all over the media for the past two days, free schools are indeed "driven by a somewhat ideologically obsessed" secretary of state; and even if the word "lunacy" might be a bit strong, to be filling a hole in the free schools budget by taking £400m earmarked for urgently needed school places looks suspect, to say the least.
The bigger context for all this is twofold. First, George Osborne tells us that austerity is "not even half done". Second, we are in the midst of an increasing shortage of primary school places. The latest figures on state school class sizes are released next month, but last year's showed the number of infant-age classes – four to seven years old – with more than 30 children almost trebling over five years. The noise emanating from schools is clear enough: a survey published earlier this year said 87% of school leaders were worried about the shortage of places in primary schools, with one in four "very concerned".The bigger context for all this is twofold. First, George Osborne tells us that austerity is "not even half done". Second, we are in the midst of an increasing shortage of primary school places. The latest figures on state school class sizes are released next month, but last year's showed the number of infant-age classes – four to seven years old – with more than 30 children almost trebling over five years. The noise emanating from schools is clear enough: a survey published earlier this year said 87% of school leaders were worried about the shortage of places in primary schools, with one in four "very concerned".
So even at the supposedly ringfenced Department for Education, spending ought to be very careful. Meanwhile, the West London Free School, the "comprehensive grammar" co-founded by the journalist Toby Young, has just spent £9m on an office block it wants to convert into classrooms, though only one of its two existing sites is currently used for lessons (as if to confirm that things are not quite as they should be, it is now on to its third headteacher in three years). In Hull, the secondary Boulevard academy cost a reported £8m to build, and opened with just 43 pupils. Gove has just signed off £45m for a sixth-form college sponsored by the carpet magnate Philip Harris, which will see to the education of a mere 500 students. The high-profile closures of the Discovery free school in Crawley (cost: £3m) and the secondary wing of Derby's infamous Al Madinah school (the largest part of a project given an annual £1.4m of public money) speak for themselves. Meanwhile, plenty of people – including some Tories, presumably – are still at a loss to know why their taxes are being spent on Steiner schools, and the teaching of transcendental meditation. So even at the supposedly ringfenced Department for Education, spending ought to be very careful. Meanwhile, the West London Free School, the "comprehensive grammar" co-founded by the journalist Toby Young, has just spent £9m on an office block it wants to convert into classrooms, though only one of its two existing sites is currently used for lessons (as if to confirm that things are not quite as they should be, it is now on to its third headteacher in three years). In Hull, the secondary Boulevard academy cost a reported £8m to build, and opened with just 43 pupils. Gove has just signed off £45m for a sixth-form college sponsored by the carpet magnate Philip Harris, which will see to the education of a mere 500 students. The high-profile closures of the Discovery free school in Crawley (cost: £3m) and the secondary wing of Derby's infamous Al Madinah school (the largest part of a project given an annual £1.4m of public money) speak for themselves. Meanwhile, plenty of people – including some Tories, presumably – are still at a loss to know why their taxes are being spent on Steiner education, and a school which practises transcendental meditation.
Bigger numbers, though, arguably shine more light on what is happening, and the lack of attention being paid by the DfE to the primary places crisis. Margaret Hodge's public accounts committee recently highlighted the fact that 42 free schools – with a capital cost of at least £241m – have opened in areas not forecast to need extra places. In response, the government says that "most" primary free schools are in areas of high need, but that's a rather self-serving point: despite a shortage of primary places, free schools are disproportionately tilted towards the secondary sector – and if primary free schools are so geared towards meeting demand, why do half of those set to open this year still have unfilled places?Bigger numbers, though, arguably shine more light on what is happening, and the lack of attention being paid by the DfE to the primary places crisis. Margaret Hodge's public accounts committee recently highlighted the fact that 42 free schools – with a capital cost of at least £241m – have opened in areas not forecast to need extra places. In response, the government says that "most" primary free schools are in areas of high need, but that's a rather self-serving point: despite a shortage of primary places, free schools are disproportionately tilted towards the secondary sector – and if primary free schools are so geared towards meeting demand, why do half of those set to open this year still have unfilled places?
The key issue, moreover, may not be the share of free schools in areas of need, but the proportion of such areas that have actually been granted them. The public accounts committee's free schools report seems to have the answer: there have been "no applications to open primary free schools in half of districts with a high or severe forecast need for school places by the academic year 2015-16".The key issue, moreover, may not be the share of free schools in areas of need, but the proportion of such areas that have actually been granted them. The public accounts committee's free schools report seems to have the answer: there have been "no applications to open primary free schools in half of districts with a high or severe forecast need for school places by the academic year 2015-16".
Obviously, this is what happens when local authorities – now in effect barred from opening new maintained schools – are cut out of education, and the oversight of school places goes with them. It also points up the folly of letting some half-arsed approximation of the market decide where new schools are opened. It is worth looking back to what David Laws – the Lib Dem education minister, said to be "at war" with Gove but perfectly peaceable less than a year ago – said to the education select committee in October 2013. He was asked about why free schools were opening in areas with surplus places – such as Suffolk, where despite a 28% excess of secondary school places, three such free schools have opened, with a capital spend of £3.7m. "Look, the parents will decide," he said. "If they don't want to go to the free schools … then that will be evident and the free schools will presumably not be around for very long. If those [free] schools open in areas where all the schools are popular and outstanding, they won't do very well."Obviously, this is what happens when local authorities – now in effect barred from opening new maintained schools – are cut out of education, and the oversight of school places goes with them. It also points up the folly of letting some half-arsed approximation of the market decide where new schools are opened. It is worth looking back to what David Laws – the Lib Dem education minister, said to be "at war" with Gove but perfectly peaceable less than a year ago – said to the education select committee in October 2013. He was asked about why free schools were opening in areas with surplus places – such as Suffolk, where despite a 28% excess of secondary school places, three such free schools have opened, with a capital spend of £3.7m. "Look, the parents will decide," he said. "If they don't want to go to the free schools … then that will be evident and the free schools will presumably not be around for very long. If those [free] schools open in areas where all the schools are popular and outstanding, they won't do very well."
This is a formula for quite stupid profligacy. Essentially, you chuck around vast amounts of public money, and see what happens. While the primary place crisis mounts, areas that most need new schools don't get them, but providing someone shouts loud enough, areas with a surfeit of places do. Untested organisations are invited to participate. Free schools may buy up buildings only to close, and swiftly vacate them. Parents risk being taken in by someone's promises, only to find their children suddenly marooned. Spend, spend, spend seems to be the DfE's watchword – which may explain why free schools are not the only focus of its generosity: between 2010 and 2012 the department went over budget on its academies programme by a cool £1bn.This is a formula for quite stupid profligacy. Essentially, you chuck around vast amounts of public money, and see what happens. While the primary place crisis mounts, areas that most need new schools don't get them, but providing someone shouts loud enough, areas with a surfeit of places do. Untested organisations are invited to participate. Free schools may buy up buildings only to close, and swiftly vacate them. Parents risk being taken in by someone's promises, only to find their children suddenly marooned. Spend, spend, spend seems to be the DfE's watchword – which may explain why free schools are not the only focus of its generosity: between 2010 and 2012 the department went over budget on its academies programme by a cool £1bn.
Somehow, via some unexplained version of Adam Smith's "invisible hand", all this borderline chaos is supposed to "drive up standards". And what do the public think? At the last count, only 27% supported free schools, with 47% against. Funny, that.Somehow, via some unexplained version of Adam Smith's "invisible hand", all this borderline chaos is supposed to "drive up standards". And what do the public think? At the last count, only 27% supported free schools, with 47% against. Funny, that.
• This article was amended on 14 May 2014. An earlier version referred to taxes being spent on the teaching of transcendental meditation at a free school. Although the daily practice of transcendental mediation is part of the curriculum at the Maharishi free school, the teaching of it is paid for by a private foundation.