Bid for free school to meet town's places crisis made to Government
PLANS for a new free school in Portishead have been submitted to the Government.
The Village Quarter Parents' Action Group and educational adviser Marcus Orlovsky have spent several weeks preparing an application for a new free school in the town.
The application, which sets out in detail plans for the new school, was submitted to the Department of Education's Free Schools Application Team on Friday.
It will now be considered by Government education chiefs and it is hoped a decision will be made within the next few months whether funding for the scheme will be available.
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One location being considered is unused office blocks in Newfoundland Way although other sites across the town are also being investigated.
The school would open in September 2014, initially with 60 places for reception class students. There would also be 30 class places for Year 1 and Year 2 students.
The application also contains details of the school's planned curriculum and ethos and how it would be run. It is hoped that over the years the school would grow, eventually offering 420 additional class places for students in the town.
The application also includes feedback from parents, statistics regarding the lack of school places in Portishead and projections about how the town is likely to grow.
It also features details about how the action group was formed and how the growth of Portishead has led to insufficient school places in the town.
Village Quarter Parents' Action Group spokeswoman Laura Haseldine said: "We are really pleased with how the application has come together and hope the Department of Education feels the same.
"This is a very detailed business plan for how the school will launch, run and develop.
"We feel that a new free school is the best long term solution to the ongoing issue with a lack of school places in Portishead.
"North Somerset Council cannot continue to put temporary classrooms here, there and everywhere.
"A free school is the way forward and we believe the plan we have pulled together is truly special."
It is likely that Government representatives will visit Portishead in the coming months to speak to members of the action group and Mr Orlovky about the plans.
If agreed, funding for the new school would come from the Department of Education.
A special trust – the Village Quarter School Trust – has already been set up as part of the application process.
If plans are agreed the trust would run and administer the school, appoint staff and agree the curriculum.
Mr Orlovsky is a founder member and director of educational change consultants Bryanston Square – one of three organisations to put forward a bid to open a free school in the town.
The move to look at setting up a free school in Portishead follows mounting concern about the lack of class places in the growing town.
This year more than 20 students failed to get a place at a primary school in the town, with some children now travelling to class in Pill or Clevedon.
Schools in Portishead have already been expanded since 2010 but statistics have revealed that there will be a shortfall of 103 school primary spaces in the town by 2015.
If the free school plan gets the green light, it would be the first school of its kind to open in North Somerset.
Comments
by PortisheadAH1
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 10:18PM
“You do not need to defend the work of the VQPG because nobody is criticising them. I think it is admirable that a small group of people are striving to achieve something. However, you make it sound generally that all "parents of the town" support the Free School which is not the case. Some would prefer the local authority to pursue other options and be accountable and some are querying why The Post keeps reporting that two other organisations have put in a bid in addition to that which Mr Orlovsky is involved in without explanation as to who these are. While you say information can be gained from the press, unfortunately this is not always reliable.
Strange you mention the Village Quarter Action Group (VQAG) because the report doesn't and neither did I but it is good that you have clarified what you believe the position to be and while they are two separate groups, the VQPG was probably pleased that the VQAG gave support initially in distributing information to its membership, which of course did not include everyone in the Village Quarter never mind Portishead as a whole.
The point being made really is that all parents (and indeed residents) have an interest in how the town's children are educated, irrespective of whether they attended Free School meetings or not. Their opinion is just as important as those who support a free school and whether you agree or not, there are still many outstanding questions which have not been answered by the local authority. Have just read incidentally a very interesting document regarding St Barnabas School which of course could be utilised as it is still I believe one of the several other options. As you have commented on the St Peter's expansion report on this website, you will I hope be interested in other people's views on this too because again, it will affect the town as a whole. It is good to see someone like yourself participating in a reasonable debate instead of the inappropriate behaviour experienced from others when one chooses to ask valid questions on a subject that has been important to residents in this town for years, not just in the last six months. They too worked tirelessly to have the matter of education provision for Portishead addressed.”
by tanslat
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 7:02PM
“As far as I am aware, the other 2 potential sponsors have not gone as far as putting in a bid to the DfE. They were simply presenting to parents interested in the provision of a Free School, to give the parents an opportunity to decide which of them they wanted to work with to put a bid together. The parents who have worked tirelessly to "make it happen" then asked all parents who attended all of the meetings, or received information by other means, to decide which of the potential sponsors they wished to support, and the overwhelming majority voted to back the proposal from Marcus Orlovsky, so his is, I believe, the only bid, as one of the criteria the DfE will use to make a final decision will be the level of support the bid has received from parents.
Also, to clarify, the Village Quarter Parent Group and the Village Quarter Action Group are two entirely separate groups - only the VQPG have been involved in the schools issue.
I am sure that any parents having an interest in where children will be educated will be fully aware of the plans that the LA have for a further breach class and for possible expansion of an alternative school in Portishead. If they are not, they can get this information from the VQPG or find it in the local press. They will also receive further information later this month, once the deadline for choosing school places has passed.
The parents of the town have done an exceptional job of making their own decisions so far, with the help and information provided by the VQPG - just because the words Village Quarter appear in their name doesn't mean that they are only interested in the needs of the Village Quarter.”
by tanslat
Wednesday, January 09 2013, 6:53PM
“As far as I am aware, the other 2 potential sponsors have not gone as far as putting in a bid to the DfE. They were simply presenting to parents interested in the provision of a Free School, to give the parents an opportunity to decide which of them they wanted to work with to put a bid together. The parents who have worked tirelessly to "make it happen" then asked all parents who attended all of the meetings, or received information by other means, to decide which of the potential sponsors they wished to support, and the overwhelming majority voted to back the proposal from Marcus Orlovsky, so his is, I believe, the only bid, as one of the criteria the DfE will use to make a final decision will be the level of support the bid has received from parents.
Also, to clarify, the Village Quarter Parent Group and the Village Quarter Action Group are two entirely separate groups - only the VQPG have been involved in the schools issue.
I am sure that any parents having an interest in where children will be educated will be fully aware of the plans that the LA have for a further breach class and for possible expansion of an alternative school in Portishead. If they are not, they can find this information on the VQPG Facebook page or in the local press. They will also receive further information later this month, once the deadline for choosing school places has passed.
The parents of the town have done an exceptional job of making their own decisions so far, with the help and information provided by the VQPG - just because the words Village Quarter appear in their name doesn't mean that they are only interested in the needs of the Village Quarter.”
by PortisheadAH1
Tuesday, January 08 2013, 6:12PM
“Can we now have some information please Post on the other two organisations who are bidding for a Free School and also what other options are still being considered for educational provision in Portishead? May be particularly useful for those residents who do not wish to be involved with the Village Quarter Parents Action Group's application but still have an interest as to where children will be educated.
Also interesting that this article states other sites in Portishead are being considered as well as Newfoundland Way. Now I wonder where that could be....?”