Just a handful apply to create free schools in Midlands

A flagship Government reform of education is making little progress across the region with only a handful of applications for the creation of free schools being submitted.

Six groups across Staffordshire and the Black Country have applied in the last year for Free School status, and two of these have already been refused.

Free Schools are semi-independent state schools set up by parents, teachers, faith groups and other organisations. This means they have increased control over various aspects of children's education.

They can have a say on the curriculum, teachers' pay and conditions, and the length of school terms and days.

Last week the Griffin Schools Trust, which was hoping to establish a girls' school in Oldbury, was refused permission as was Guru Nanak Academy in Smethwick.

The Griffin's Trust was told there was not a need for a girls' school in the borough while bosses at the Guru Nanak Academy were told their application did not include enough detail on how the community would be involved in the school.

The only Free Schools which have been approved by the Secretary of State are the Anand Primary School in Wolverhampton which will be run by the Wolverhampton Sangat Education Trust, and the Rural Enterprise Academy, based at South Staffordshire College's Rodbaston campus near Penkridge.

Despite the low take up of free schools, the number of academy schools which were established under the Labour government and are directly funded by central government and/or corporate sponsors are on the rise.

In Staffordshire and the Black Country, there are 57 academy schools and a further 28 either looking into or in the process of converting.

Department of Education spokeswoman Bobbie Lakhera said the low number of free schools is due to the demanding criteria the schools have to meet.

She said: "Setting up a Free School is not an easy task, and all groups deserve credit for the hard work that they put in."

Report by Naomi Dunning