Oral Answers to Questions

Mary Macleod Excerpts

Monday 21st July 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Laws]

We always pay due regard to the views of individual schools and governing bodies, but it is vital that when we academise schools that have been failing in the past, the Department discharges its responsibility to select the sponsor which we believe will be most effective.

[Mary Macleod (Brentford and Isleworth) (Con)]

5. What recent assessment she has made of the performance of free schools; and if she will make a statement.

[Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con)]

14. What recent assessment she has made of the performance of free schools; and if she will make a statement.

[The Minister of State, Department for Education (Mr Nick Gibb)]

Based on Ofsted inspections of free schools undertaken so far, the majority of free schools are performing well. They are also more likely to be rated outstanding than other state-funded schools.

[Mary Macleod]

My constituency is one of the fastest- growing boroughs in London. We currently have one free school, which is performing well, according to parents. School places are my biggest local issue. Will my hon. Friend meet me to discuss this and see whether we can prioritise the creation of more new free schools in Brentford and Isleworth?

[Mr Gibb]

My hon. Friend is, I know, closely involved with all the schools in Brentford and Isleworth and is active in helping to identify sites for new free schools. I would welcome the opportunity to visit that one free school she refers to—I think it is the Nishkam school in Isleworth—and to join her in meeting her constituents who want to establish new free schools in response to parental demand. That is what the free schools programme is all about—new schools set up in response to local parental demand, delivering strong discipline and high academic standards.