Industry News
Tories want more independent schools
Posted on 26th February 2008
The Conservative party has pledged to make it easier for groups of parents, charities or philanthropists to set up independent schools within the state sector in order to create 220,000 new places.
It announced its plans after new statistics revealed that a significant minority of children are unable to get into their first choice of secondary school.
Data obtained from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) showed that last year around 100,000 families were unable to find their child a place at their preferred school, although 93 per cent were able to attend one of their top three schools.
One in 14 unlucky parents were denied a place in any of their top six schools.
Commenting on the figures, shadow children's secretary Michael Gove said that issue was "particularly acute" in inner city areas, adding: "These figures show that for large numbers of parents the idea that they can choose a school for their children is a myth."
He also said that the Tories would give parents the power to take their children out of schools that they perceive to be failing and apply to a new independent academy.
A recent report in the Guardian found that a number of parents are turning to private schools amid fears that the new lottery system for state school applications will force them to send their children to an under-performing school. 