The group behind plans for a free school in south Oxford are inviting parents of children aged under 14 to register their interest online.
Oxford New School is canvassing to see what support there is for the free school, which could open as early as September 2013. Oxford businessman Eylan Ezekiel is behind the proposals, and has re-launched the www.onschool.org.uk website to find out what demand there is in the city for the free school idea, and answers the questions of parents and other members of the community.
Mr Ezekiel, an education consultant, said the project had been launched to tackle a crisis in schooling in Oxford with an estimated shortage of 800 places in secondary schools in the city by 2016. The coalition Government is encouraging groups of parents, teachers and charities from across the country to establish state-funded, independent 'free' schools if they can demonstrate there is a demand for one.
Like academies, they will be funded on a comparable basis to other state-funded schools and will not be profit making. But unlike academies, the school would be run as a cooperative with a headteacher and a chief executive, to ensure its smooth running. Mr Ezekiel said the reputation of the city's universities was not matched by the experience of children in Oxford's schools, and a significant positive change was needed.
“Oxford New School is the right proposal for a great new local school in South Oxford," he said. "We have had great reactions so far, and we look forward to developing this proposal further in partnership with the families of South Oxford , and invite all parents to register their support on our website, get in contact, or to come and see us.”
If successful, the school would serve communities in the OX1 and OX4 postcodes of Rose Hill, Florence Park, New Hinksey, Donnington Bridge, Iffley, Grandpont and Kennington. There will be public events in the area in January, including community centres, at Sainsburys Heyford Hill, Templars Square, Westgate and other shopping centres.
Future students at the school could become the first in England to revise for Scottish qualifications and the International Baccalaureate alongside traditional GCSEs and A-Levels. Mr Ezekiel said the school could help relieve the burden of extra spaces from the existing secondary schools in the city, and add to the quality and quantity of educational provision.
The school will have a capacity of 360 children, when full, by 2018. It will be open to 11 to 14-year-olds initially, and will be a mixed comprehensive, open to all abilities.
