Guardian: H&F refugee groups expelled by Free School

The Guardian reports here that the West London Free School is about to expel numerous local voluntary service groups currently working with the most vulnerable people in our society. The news that the School is coming to Palingswick House in Hammersmith was first brought to you on this blog in November but our Council (and local press) have only just reported it publicly.

I say this to highlight two things: first, that the Council has needlessly refused to admit publicly something many people locally already knew, resulting in rumour and uncertainty for the local voluntary groups, and second that the power of this blog is entirely dependant on the people that send me the stories - so thank-you.

In his defence of being the evictor-in-chief Toby Young, the man in charge of the new school which represents a flagship Conservative policy of establishing "free" schools not dependent on local education authorities, argues that at least half of the children coming to the school will be local. Well great but that seems to be a confirmation of something I also reported on - namely that a large percentage of the kids at the school will be from outside H&F. In other words local services will be lost in order to provide a new school for non-local kids. 

Controversial? You might think so but our Council has never been one to shrink away from that, and I have to say most of my criticism of this school has been related to the secrecy with which it's gone about its business thus far. I can actually understand why it will appeal to residents and parents, but worry about the impact it will have on existing schools. But then, on balance, if this new model does work how will they know if they don't try it?

19th Jan UPDATE: West London Free School founder Toby Young has responded to this post here.