Chorley free school plans come to nothing (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Chorley free school plans come to nothing

10:37am Thursday 14th June 2012 in News

PLANS for a new ‘free school’ have been scuppered, less than three months before it was due to open.

Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove has written MP Lindsay Hoyle to confirm that he was withdrawing funding for the Chorley Career and Sixth Form Academy.

The Department for Education did not feel that the academy could meet the required standard for value for money or offer a high quality alternative to existing education establishments.

The academy has already held numerous open days to recruit students, interviewed for teachers and other staff and entered plans to convert the town’s former tax office on Water Street into a temporary base.

The trust issued a strongly worded statement, accusing the Department for Education of ‘bowing to political pressure’, saying they ‘lacked the conviction and vision to see the project through’.

The Gill Academy Trust, the organisation behind the academy, said: “The DfE has withdrawn funding at the eleventh hour.

“We are awaiting a written confirmation from the DfE explaining their decision.

“We believe that we have an outstanding model for an innovative school.”

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