New Schools Network

New Schools Network
Abbreviation	NSN
Formation	2009
Type	education charity
Location	London, UK
Director	Rachel Wolf
Website	www.newschoolsnetwork.org

The New Schools Network is a United Kingdom-registered charity which advises groups of parents or other groups who wish to set up new state-funded, independent schools inspired by similar models in Sweden in the United States. Such schools can be established in England under the Academies Act 2010.

In September 2010, 16 free schools were chosen to go forward for opening in 2011.^[1]

Background

The group was set up in 2009 by Rachel Wolf, a former adviser to Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, who is now Secretary of State at the Department for Education.^[2] Wolf started the group after visiting New York City whilst working for Gove and observing the city's charter schools, such as the Knowledge Is Power Program and the New York City Charter School Center, who advise new schools in the city.^[3][4] Wolf's mother is Alison Wolf, a professor of public policy at King's College London, who was tasked by the Department for Education in September 2010 with a review of vocational education.^[5] Her father is Martin Wolf, a journalist for the Financial Times.

The group's list of trustees include Bruce Liddington, Amanda Spielman and Barbara Harrison, all of whom have sponsored or been involved in the running of academy schools in the past. The group's website lists Professor Julian Le Grand as an adviser.^[6] The group has carried out research into free schools and in March 2010 co-published a paper entitled Blocking the Best: Obstacles to new, independent state schools with think-tank Policy Exchange.^[7] In their role giving support to parents wishing to instigate new schools, the group advised the journalist Toby Young in his project to set up the new West London Free School in Ealing.^[8]

After the election of the coalition government in May 2010, the Department for Education awarded the group £500,000 to advise on behalf of the department groups setting up new schools.^[9] The award and the group's connection with the Conservative Party was criticised as an example of cronyism.^[2] The group was also accused of "lacking in transparency" since it refuses to disclose its funding sources although Wolf has said the organisation is not funded by any profit-making schools companies.^[10]

In the autumn of 2010, Education Secretary Michael Gove announced plans for 16 free schools which are expected to open in September 2011.^[1]

In September 2010, MP Lisa Nandy lodged a formal complaint with the Charity Commission over concerns about the impartiality of the New Schools Network.^[5] Schools Minister Nick Gibb responded to questions over the tendering of the contract saying "The formal grant agreement between the Department and NSN has not yet been finalised but it will include appropriate clauses on conflicts of interest and clear reporting requirements. There was no contract let for advice to potential Free School providers and therefore there were no tenders from other companies."^[11] The Charity Commission ruled in November 2010 that the charity had not acted inappropriately and consequently closed the investigation, although it did write to its trustees reminding them of their responsibility to remain politically impartial.^[12]

See also

• Academies Act 2010
• Policy Exchange

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "New Free Schools Unveiled By Government". Channel 4. 6 September 2010. http://www.channel4.com/news/new-free-schools-unveiled-by-government. Retrieved 02 October 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Government gives £500,000 grant run by lobby firm founded by former Gove adviser, 25". The Daily Telegraph. 28 October 2010. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8091956/Government-gives-500000-grant-run-by-lobby-firm-founded-by-former-Gove-adviser-25.html. Retrieved 2 November 2010. 
3. ^ Wilce, Hilary (12 November 2009). "Time for change: How a young woman plans to shake up the school system". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/schools/time-for-change-how-a-young-woman-plans-to-shake-up-the-school-system-1818636.html. Retrieved 11 July 2010. 
4. ^ Wilby, Peter (16 March 2010). "Free radical". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/mar/16/free-schools-tory-policy. Retrieved 11 July 2010. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Higgs, Lauren (28 September 2010). "Free schools charity faces probe over impartiality". Children & Young People Now. http://www.cypnow.co.uk/news/ByDiscipline/Education/1030957/Free-schools-charity-faces-probe-impartiality/. Retrieved 02 October 2010. 
6. ^ New Schools Network, About Us
7. ^ Fazackerley, Anna; Wolf, Rachel; Massey, Alex (2010). Blocking the Best: Obstacles to new, independent state schools. London: Policy Exchange. ISBN 978-1-906097-75-2. 
8. ^ Griffiths, Sian (21 February 2010). "Me and my 350 schools". The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article7034772.ece. Retrieved 11 July 2010. 
9. ^ "First group of 24 free schools prepares to open". EducationInvestor. 30 August 2011. http://www.educationinvestor.co.uk/%28A%28iUhxNrydzAEkAAAAYzNiYmE0NWItYzgyNS00OTBmLTg2NGUtZmEwYmQxZmY3OWVlA30PTFdGIvVCtWdNfTHF7mKpmjk1%29S%280uaw0q2kqbyyfq220qgbpkur%29%29/ShowArticle.aspx?ID=2416. Retrieved 7 September 2011. 
10. ^ Clark, Tom (6 July 2010). "New Schools Network lacks transparency". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/jul/06/michael-gove-new-schools-transparency. Retrieved 11 July 2010. 
11. ^ Parliamentary Debates, House of Commons, November 1, 2010, column 612W.
12. ^ R. Vaughan, "Watchdog warning: promote free schools but remain independent", TESConnect (26 November 2010) (Accessed 15 May 2011)

External links

• New Schools Network
• New Schools Network, Registered Charity no. 1132122 at the Charity Commission
• Department for Education - Free Schools