John
01-03-2011, 02:31 PM
Plans for a generation of new "free schools" are backed by only a minority of parents, a survey has suggested.
The YouGov poll for the National Union of Teachers (NUT) found just a quarter of people wanted the schools, which would be run by parents and private companies.
The NUT said the research showed reforms were "not wanted or needed" and warned the Government to stop "playing with the educational future of this country".
The Department for Education (DfE) said it was disappointed the NUT continued to "blindly oppose" the moves.
Free schools can be set up by charities, universities, businesses, educational groups, teachers and groups of parents.
They can include primary and secondary schools, are not run by local authorities and have more control over the curriculum and teachers' pay and conditions.
The first 25 are due to open across 22 local authorities from September.
In the survey of 1,021 parents, 26% of adults actively supported the plans. They were opposed by 31%, and 29% were not in favour or against.
Half of those questioned said there was a need for a new school in their area, with about the same number saying there was not.
Christine Blower, NUT general secretary, said: "This survey clearly shows that parents are not clamouring to set up free schools, have no issue with schools being accountable to the community through democratically elected local authorities and absolutely reject the premise of their children's education being handed over to private companies."
A DfE spokesman said: "As well as teachers and charities it is also parents themselves who are behind many of the free school proposals - parents who want something better for their children.
"And even where parents are not the lead proposers, each proposal has to show there is demand locally for the type of education they plan to offer."
Source - Yahoo.
The YouGov poll for the National Union of Teachers (NUT) found just a quarter of people wanted the schools, which would be run by parents and private companies.
The NUT said the research showed reforms were "not wanted or needed" and warned the Government to stop "playing with the educational future of this country".
The Department for Education (DfE) said it was disappointed the NUT continued to "blindly oppose" the moves.
Free schools can be set up by charities, universities, businesses, educational groups, teachers and groups of parents.
They can include primary and secondary schools, are not run by local authorities and have more control over the curriculum and teachers' pay and conditions.
The first 25 are due to open across 22 local authorities from September.
In the survey of 1,021 parents, 26% of adults actively supported the plans. They were opposed by 31%, and 29% were not in favour or against.
Half of those questioned said there was a need for a new school in their area, with about the same number saying there was not.
Christine Blower, NUT general secretary, said: "This survey clearly shows that parents are not clamouring to set up free schools, have no issue with schools being accountable to the community through democratically elected local authorities and absolutely reject the premise of their children's education being handed over to private companies."
A DfE spokesman said: "As well as teachers and charities it is also parents themselves who are behind many of the free school proposals - parents who want something better for their children.
"And even where parents are not the lead proposers, each proposal has to show there is demand locally for the type of education they plan to offer."
Source - Yahoo.