By David Gilchrist
‘Free’ Schools are pressuring parents for money to pay for school trips or even to employ teachers!
Parents are being told by Whitehall Park ‘Free’ school in Islington to pay into a special fund to pay for trips. It is asking parents to prove that they have paid in. Unfortunately parents with family budgets under stress from the Chancellor’s austerity programme are not paying up.
Parents at Grindon Hall School in Sunderland have been asked to fund a whole new teacher! The school estimates that it needs £40,000 to be raised. We have to wonder if that will be one off or will parents have to raise this every year to pay this teacher’s salary?
The Christian School is in special measures. A Department for Education spokesperson said:
Grindon Hall Christian School was placed in special measures in January following an Ofsted report that found issues with leadership, the quality of learning and safeguarding. It is also subject to two financial notices to improve. The Regional Schools Commissioner is seriously concerned about the school and has been exploring options for future sponsorship, to provide the strong skills in financial management and governance required to bring about swift improvements.
