Free schools to double this month

An additional 13 studio schools will also offer education with a vocational focus, including one specialising in early years training.  

The total number of free schools, which are state-funded primary and secondary schools independent of local authority control run by teachers or other individuals, will be 174.  

Of these, 71 are located in areas with either a shortage of school places or deprived areas. In total the new schools will create capacity for 130,000 more pupils.  

Among this month’s openings is the first bilingual free school in London, which is supported by children’s author Judith Kerr, who wrote The Tiger Who Came to Tea and the Mog the cat books.  

The Judith Kerr Primary School in Southwark will teach English literacy and phonics in English from Reception, and maths, humanities and science in both English and German.
 
Multi-academy trust CfBT Schools Trust sponsors the school, linking it with five other academies.  

The school’s principal designate Basia Lubaczewska said the school would follow the ethos that ‘early immersion is key to ensuring bilingualism for all our children, whatever the children’s linguistic ability when they start’.  

‘Throughout our school the language of instruction will therefore be well balanced between German and English, with children gaining confidence and fluency in both languages,’ she said.
 
An existing free school, Langley Hall Primary Academy in Slough, is also to open a new site this term following demand from parents.  

Its education director and executive head teacher is Sally Eaton, who is also educational director of early years training provider Childcare Company.
 
Ms Eaton said the school’s capacity has doubled every year since it opened in 2011. When a second site at a former independent school became available this year, Ms Eaton decided to enlarge the school to offer places for more than 700 pupils.  

‘We thought about it very carefully because we knew it was a big challenge,’ said Ms Eaton. ‘But we had a waiting list of 500 and there was a need in the area for more primary school places, so we made the decision to expand.’  

In Berkshire, the National Autistic Society is opening a specialist school for five- to 19-year-olds who have autism. 

Thames Valley School principal Fiona Veitch said the institution had received overwhelming support from local parents and schools for the project.
 
‘My staff team and I are looking forward to working with parents and the wider community to help our pupils achieve their goals and fulfil their potential,’ she said.