Forum Topic

Acton's First Free School?

Still not clear on the answer to my question in the 'Swedish Schools' strand on what exactly is 'free' about the proposed 'free schools'. Central Government will control them in the same way they have in practice controlled all schools for some time. I'll try another tack. All primary and secondary education has been free in England in the sense of not charging since the Wartime Coalition's 1944 Education Act, and many schools were free before that. I know that Acton High and its predecessors go back to 1906, that its alumni include two members of The Who and set up the Old Actonians sports and social club and that fagging continued into the 1950s.I think Derwentwater pre-dates Acton High, but Ellen Wilkinson, West Acton and Twyford came later. That's about the sum total of my knowledge.Anyone know when Berrymede or other Acton schools began?

Guy Fiegehen ● 5959d5 Comments

The Free means free from the Oiks that might upset Toby's offspring. But judging from his closing shot on Newsnight recently, he might not be able to secure them a place so it might be off to to AHS which by then will be an outstandingestablishment.Moved to the neighbourhood could not get on with the locals kids Toby.

Colin Carroll ● 5958d

What a nasty little crack at Toby that is. Believe it or not there might be plenty of parents who would just like a different sort of school and curriculum than that run by the local education authority, who have no problem with who their kids go to school with or where it is, who just want a choice of approach. There are no prizes in life for unswerving loyalty to the ability of government either local or national to run things perfectly. So don't resort to cheap shots just because your own blind faith is being questioned.

Charlie Mawer ● 5958d

Touche Mr Mawer - and I don't even have kids!

Rosco White ● 5958d

If all these wonderful people want to help students, why aren't they backing the school that exists? When Toby's school creams off the money from the LEA, what happens to the kids at AHS? Some of them don't have lovely smart determined parents that can play the 'selection' game. It isn't patronising or 'cheap'. I think Toby should back the school that exists.

Sam O'Doyle ● 5958d

What was cheap about what I said? Is it that I raise an element of truth about Tobe's motivation for setting up a school that will be in keeping with his kid's background?

Colin Carroll ● 5957d