Menu
29/08/2012
One In A Million Free School Will Not Open As Planned
With only one week until school term time begins the Department for Education (DfE) has decided that the One in a Million Free School will not open as planned on September 3 2012.
The news comes as a shock with significant impact and implications for the School Project. Wayne Jacobs, Co-Founder of One in a Million said: "We are completely baffled and stunned at this decision by the DfE and absolutely devastated for the parents, children and staff of the One in a Million Free School."
Matthew Band, Chief Executive of One in a Million said: "Put simply, in Oct 2011 when we secured the OIAM Free School, we were at 100% capacity in terms of our student numbers, had our split site facilities identified and ready to purchase and yet within 10 months, due to the DfE’s processes & inability to sign off Funding Agreement and secure our Facilities, they have put the Project at risk."
The school team have worked tirelessly over the last 10 months to ensure the school was ready to open this September. With nearly two thirds of student places still filled, staff recruited and appointed, and building contractors on site up until only a week ago, the project team also had approval for its 50-100% Financial Plans in June and were assured by the DfE the Funding Agreement required to open the school was all on track for sign off by the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove MP.
The team had met all conditions put forward by the Department, had passed its Readiness for Opening Meeting and achieved a good OFSTED pre-inspection but on Friday 24 August the DfE Free Schools group at a regional Yorkshire & Humber and national UK level took a decision not to recommend to the Secretary of State that he sign off the agreement and hence the school cannot be legally opened on 3 September as planned.
Mr Band said: "Obviously we are amazed at this decision particularly at such a late stage And although ‘low’ student numbers have been cited and we have had to watch some parents walk away due to the insecurity surrounding Funding Agreement and Facility acquisition, as a small school we still have nearly two thirds of our places filled with 30 students committed to start on the 3 September 2012.
"It just doesn’t make sense and we don’t know of any other Free School that has been put in this position with a week to opening and we will watch with great interest to see which Schools do open in September, their student numbers and capacity, and whether their facilities are permanent or temporary?
"No doubt in the fullness of time we will find out the real reason for what has just happened and will consider our position but we are determined to take this forward if at all possible and will pursue whatever avenues are open to us to make the One in a Million Free School a successful reality."
(CD)
The news comes as a shock with significant impact and implications for the School Project. Wayne Jacobs, Co-Founder of One in a Million said: "We are completely baffled and stunned at this decision by the DfE and absolutely devastated for the parents, children and staff of the One in a Million Free School."
Matthew Band, Chief Executive of One in a Million said: "Put simply, in Oct 2011 when we secured the OIAM Free School, we were at 100% capacity in terms of our student numbers, had our split site facilities identified and ready to purchase and yet within 10 months, due to the DfE’s processes & inability to sign off Funding Agreement and secure our Facilities, they have put the Project at risk."
The school team have worked tirelessly over the last 10 months to ensure the school was ready to open this September. With nearly two thirds of student places still filled, staff recruited and appointed, and building contractors on site up until only a week ago, the project team also had approval for its 50-100% Financial Plans in June and were assured by the DfE the Funding Agreement required to open the school was all on track for sign off by the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove MP.
The team had met all conditions put forward by the Department, had passed its Readiness for Opening Meeting and achieved a good OFSTED pre-inspection but on Friday 24 August the DfE Free Schools group at a regional Yorkshire & Humber and national UK level took a decision not to recommend to the Secretary of State that he sign off the agreement and hence the school cannot be legally opened on 3 September as planned.
Mr Band said: "Obviously we are amazed at this decision particularly at such a late stage And although ‘low’ student numbers have been cited and we have had to watch some parents walk away due to the insecurity surrounding Funding Agreement and Facility acquisition, as a small school we still have nearly two thirds of our places filled with 30 students committed to start on the 3 September 2012.
"It just doesn’t make sense and we don’t know of any other Free School that has been put in this position with a week to opening and we will watch with great interest to see which Schools do open in September, their student numbers and capacity, and whether their facilities are permanent or temporary?
"No doubt in the fullness of time we will find out the real reason for what has just happened and will consider our position but we are determined to take this forward if at all possible and will pursue whatever avenues are open to us to make the One in a Million Free School a successful reality."
(CD)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
09 November 2005
Public schools found guilty of fee fixing
Fifty of England’s top public schools have broken competition law by exchanging information about fees, the Office of Fair Trading has announced. Following an investigation lasting more than two years, the OFT found that pupils’ parents ended up paying higher fees as a result of the information-sharing.
Public schools found guilty of fee fixing
Fifty of England’s top public schools have broken competition law by exchanging information about fees, the Office of Fair Trading has announced. Following an investigation lasting more than two years, the OFT found that pupils’ parents ended up paying higher fees as a result of the information-sharing.
05 December 2013
£1bn Towards Free School Meals
£1bn is being unlocked to fund the Department of Education's free school meals commitment. The news, announced by deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, follows an announcement in September that every child in reception, year 1 and year 2 in state-funded schools will receive a free school lunch.
£1bn Towards Free School Meals
£1bn is being unlocked to fund the Department of Education's free school meals commitment. The news, announced by deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, follows an announcement in September that every child in reception, year 1 and year 2 in state-funded schools will receive a free school lunch.
02 October 2008
Free School Meals For Scots Primary School Pupils
All school pupils in primaries one to three in Scotland are to be entitled to free school meals following successful pilot schemes.
Free School Meals For Scots Primary School Pupils
All school pupils in primaries one to three in Scotland are to be entitled to free school meals following successful pilot schemes.
27 July 2012
Free School Meals Shows Improvement In Diet
A report out today casts new light on the power of school meals to help children reach their potential. Research measuring the impact of offering free school meals to more children in specific areas of England found significant improvements in their attainment, as well as benefits for diet and take up of healthy school meals.
Free School Meals Shows Improvement In Diet
A report out today casts new light on the power of school meals to help children reach their potential. Research measuring the impact of offering free school meals to more children in specific areas of England found significant improvements in their attainment, as well as benefits for diet and take up of healthy school meals.
19 April 2012
Children's Society Warns Benefit Changes Could Leave Children Hungry
A children’s charity has warned that plans to simplify the welfare system could result in thousands of England's poorest children missing out on free school meals. The meals are linked to low-income benefits that are among those merging into a single Universal Credit in 2013.
Children's Society Warns Benefit Changes Could Leave Children Hungry
A children’s charity has warned that plans to simplify the welfare system could result in thousands of England's poorest children missing out on free school meals. The meals are linked to low-income benefits that are among those merging into a single Universal Credit in 2013.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
