Forum Topic

W L Free School seeks its third Head Teacher....

Some may remember my objections to Toby Young's bright idea of a free school for Acton and the debate on this site c.4/5 years ago. Toby and his mates lucked out with the election of the current government and that nice Mr Gove. However the new school ended up not in Acton but located in LBHF premises in Hammersmith, thanks to the Tory Council, pending purchase of locally listed Pallingswick House, once 30 odd socially useful voluntary groups had been evicted by said council. Three years later the West London Free School is advertising for its third in a row Head Teacher, is planning on installing  a two storey block of portacabins at Palingswick House as building works are well behind schedule and has just bought a nearby newly converted office building for £9.25m to house 2 year groups, as Palingswick House will be too small......Some might say that to lose one head teacher is unfortunate. To lose two indicates a problem and their premises strategy, and its expense of great concern. However, as a free school the organisation is largely beyond public scrutiny (except Ofsted) so the detail and expense is hidden from us. Who you might ask is in charge of this mess? None other than Toby Young, formerly chair of the WLFSAT, now since Jan 2014 part time CEO  To quote the press release. "Given the challenges of managing an increasing number of schools, the Board of the West London Free School Academy Trust took the decision last year to appoint a part-time CEO. After an extensive search, Toby Young was selected for the role and his appointment was ratified by the Board on 7th January 2014." (In plain language, the Board, chaired by Toby Young, searched for a p/t CEO, and selected, Toby Young........presumably Toby stepped down as Chair at some stage so as not to appoint himself.......) Cosmo Lush is now Chair of WLFSAT. The school motto is 'Dare to learn', looks to me they should be taking some lessons. See the Evening Standard article below and my thanks to a CW4 contributor for some of the information above.  http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/toby-youngs-free-school-loses-another-headteacher-9326416.html

Iain Muir ● 4514d26 Comments

The case against the school is fatally weakened by its popularity amongst parents in the area. However for the school to lose two heads in short order and not issue a statement suggests a lack of media savvy which is surprising given Toby Young's involvement.

Andy Jones ● 4513d

"The case against the school is fatally weakened by its popularity amongst parents in the area. "No it isn't.  It was sold by Toby and his acolytes as being a cheaper, higher quality alternative to state provision which they delighted in slagging off and smearing at every opportunity.It's turned out to be at least as expensive to build as BSF (£20m+ capital costs for a school of just 600, although typically it's impossible to find the real figure), your kids end up being taught by unqualified teachers in portakabins shoved in at short notice without explanation or shunted offsite to temporary accommodation and an office block on a completely different site.  Apparently we're supposed to accept that there's no one elected who can be held to account here?  For spending £20m of taxpayer's money?  Why's that 'better'?  Why does its supposed popularity (which is hardly surprising given the acres of unrelenting positive coverage and parents being terrible judges of schools*) make a shred of difference?* This isn't a knock at parents, all parents are buying a pig in a poke when choosing schools at age 10 as you can't predict the future.  This is one reason why supposed 'competition' in schools is a mirage, it'll usually come down to prejudice and rumour rather than objective assessment because the evidence just isn't there.

Thomas Barry ● 4513d

Someone recently wrote up some of the recent history - on BorisWatchhttp://www.boriswatch.co.uk/2014/05/07/west-london-free-school-and-the-curse-of-boris/

Paul Webster ● 4513d

Very expensive ideology

Chris Hurley ● 4512d

Dame Sally Coates, the former head of Burlington Danes Academy in Shepherd's Bush, has stepped in to "keep an eye" on West London Free School and assist the school as it searches for a new headteacher.Writer Toby Young, who led a group of parents in setting up the free school confirmed her role on Friday May 9, saying:" Dame Sally Coates has very kindly agreed to keep on eye on the school this term and help us recruit a new head." It's not a formal role. Rather, she's acting as a mentor and adviser to the acting head and the senior leadership team. So far she's been brilliant and everyone at the school is very impressed." With Dame Sally's help I'm confident we'll find an excellent new head."The new head will be the third since the free school opened in September 2011. The first, Thomas Packer, was moved up to Education Director early in 2013 before leaving on August 31, 2013 to be replaced by deputy head Sam Naismith, who left without warning last week.Toby Young has also confirmed that the school has bought a third building in Hammersmith, at a cost of over £9.25 million.This building, 2 Bridge Avenue, was extensively refurbished last autumn to create what estate agent Savills described as Grade A office accommodation.The school is currently based in Cambridge Grove in Hammersmith. Its original plan was to move to Palingswick House in King Street in September 2013, with the Cambridge Grove site given over to the West London Free School Primary, which opened with two reception classes of 30 children each in September last year.The Cambridge Grove site will also house a second primary, Earls Court Primary Free School, from September. It is intended to have a permanent home in future within the Earls Court redevelopment, though that development has yet to begin.However building work on Palingswick House is still not completed and an application for temporary classrooms has not yet been approved. As the secondary school is now too large to share the Cambridge Grove site, it seems the school will be split between buildings, including 2 Bridge Avenue, which will require renovation to become suitable as a school.Faced with criticism over these moves on the Evening Standard's website, Toby Young said:" Yes, the West London Free School currently has three sites in Hammersmith but it also has three schools in Hammersmith – a secondary and two primaries. We were asked to set up the primaries by the local authority because of the acute shortage of primary school places in the area thanks to the last government's short-sighted cuts. " Overall, the cost of setting up the three schools in our multi-academy trust will be far lower than the amount of money the last government would have spent under its ludicrously inefficient Building Schools for the Future programme to create three new schools." The £9.25m figure you mention is less than a third of the average cost of a new BSF school. Andy Slaughter should be thanking my trust for helping to clean up the mess his party made and at such a reasonable cost."Hammersmith MP Andy Slaughter responded: " I don’t have a problem with money going to education or new schools opening, but I want all children in my constituency to get the money, not for it to be handed out to Michael Gove’s mates."

Sara Nathan ● 4512d

So Toby speaks....and attempts to deflect criticism of the buildings fiasco by blaming Labour...and no response to the revolving heads..... He also mentions the cost of acquisition of 2 Bridge Avenue at £9.25m but not the cost of conversion to school premises. I worked at the Bridge Avenue building for 5 years. The outside space had parking for about 12 cars. An extra floor has been created in the roofspace. Nice offices but doubtful as a school without playspace etc. How are they going to fit the Earls Court Primary into Cambridge Grove as well as the WLFS Primary? If you follow the numbers in the Boris Watch post...they do not add up...... Finally he mentions an Acting Head and Dame Sally (I think an Ark person) as a mentor.....sounds like panic to me....perhaps Ark will be put in place by the Department over Toby and his chums.............

Iain Muir ● 4512d

To be honest, Iain, I haven't looked at the Earl's Court scheme other than noticing that it was the only new primary FS that refused to talk to the Guardian journalist who was writing a piece on the number of free places in new schools.  Given this revelation that it's initially on the same site as the other one I probably should, it'll turn out to be in a B&Q greenhouse or under a park bench at this rate.  How is it supposed to attract 4-5 year old kids from Earl's Court to the other side of Hammersmith Gyratory with a zero-car policy?Playspace at 2 Bridge Avenue, for 13-15 year olds, is 37 square metres, meaning you can't get the whole school outside at once (do the maths, it's about 40cm*40cm per pupil). As to what Sally Coates is doing, she's off to United Learning in September anyway, so it's either a badge appointment to reassure worried parents after the spate of departures and the building woes, or she's got instructions from the DfE to kick arse and clean house.  Either way, it looks very like a school trying to run before it can walk and, far from being independent of local authorities as Toby Young pretends, having great trouble saying 'no' to Hammersmith and Fulham council.In hindsight the problems seem to stem from opening the WLFS primary last September when it was obvious the move to the main building was running late, which has resulted in more pupils than space available.  Plenty of other free schools have delayed opening due to site issues, it's almost a hallmark of the policy, but for some reason they pressed ahead anyway. Toby's excuse is that they were asked by LBHF to help with the primary place expansion.  Why didn't they say 'sod off'?  What does the 'free' in 'free school' mean, anyway?

Thomas Barry ● 4511d

I too posted several times expressing concern about the free school movement and the WLFS in particular.  It was started by a bunch of dilettantes peddling a pack of lies and an ideology without substance.  Any informed opposition, counter claims or educational discussion was dismissed as left wing propaganda and a number of smear campaigns were launched against local schools, teachers and teaching union representatives.  Toby used the media and social networks extremely effectively.  I find it disingenuous and deluded that he is still blaming his woes and failures on the previous government and the (Conservative) LBHF rather than his own vanity and lack of experience and planning.  I also find it disappointing but not surprising that none of the original supporters of the WLFS on this forum or the W4 have posted in support of the school and its leadership.The WLFS have now spent eye-watering amounts of tax payers' money (we will never know the true figure as despite being publicly funded they are not publicly accountable) recruiting a staff almost entirely without suitable experience or qualification and purchasing blatantly unsuitable accommodation.  I assume Toby will shortly move on to his next crusade (I understand he is now developing an interest in asbestos) and leave the school and its pupils to flounder. As a parent and teacher I have always found outstanding inner-London comprehensive education to comprise of a broad, balanced and appropriate curriculum delivered by suitably qualified, experienced, hard-working, supportive and passionate professionals in a planned and proper environment not a narrow, outdated and flawed vanity project delivered from office blocks and portakabins.  The last hope for the school and the hundreds of children that depend on it is that Dame Sally can make the leadership understand this.

Andy Magee ● 4510d

.......also  if LBHF are so short of primary places they have to resort to Toby's portakabins why are they trying to close Sulivan, an outstanding LBHF primary with excellent accommodation ?

Andy Magee ● 4510d

As Iain and the Andys know quite well, the West London Free school is very popular and parents are queuing up for places. I can't sympathise with your ideological objections to Free Schools but you might be relieved to know that the West London Free school has always sought advice from distinguished Headmasters and senior management teams from successful schools elsewhere in West London. Their OFSTED report after their first year was better than most schools could expect. Take comfort from the thought that no one at the school thinks they have all the answers.

Maire Lowe ● 4509d

Maire,My objections are practical.  It is eye-wateringly expensive, has a high staff turnover, employs too many inexperienced staff, is badly managed and is unfairly  diverting resources away from other schools. This article in yesterday's IOS explains the funding issue quite well:http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/classroom-controversy-zealot-michael-gove-accused-of-lunacy-in-free-schools-budget-row-9350075.html )According to OFSTED, 79% schools were judged to be good or better in 2013. Are you saying that WLFS should be congratulated for not being in the bottom 21%?  Again this is not ideological just statistical.  The size of a waiting list and over-subscription are not recognised measures of school performance.  If you want to use anecdotal evidence I suggest you read relevant postings on the community and Mumsnet forums I think it is fair to say that parental reviews are mixed.As I said, anybody who objects in any way, shape or form to the free school movement is immediately branded ideologically opposed to school improvement.  If you want to debate the issues Maire please defend you party's position on the the funding disparities.  I would also welcome your comments on the unsuitable accommodation and the high staff turnover.

Andy Magee ● 4509d

Out of curiosity, which distinguished west London head advised them to teach KS3 in portakabins and KS4 in an office block?

Andy Magee ● 4509d

Now Andy don't you believe me? BTW it was Ealing Council policy for many years to teach in temporary accommodation. Not ideal I agree but my kids seem to manage. You know there is a desperate shortage of places in West London? Would LBHF directly managed schools have done any better for buildings? You are hardly going to blame the West London Free school for the population expansion as well surely?

Maire Lowe ● 4509d

Maire,I do think LBHF could have managed it better.  It is quite hard to think of a way it could have been more badly managed.  I think The Holy Family School in west Acton and the new Twyford Academy in the north of LBE are both far, far better examples of school expansion.I agree there is a shortage of primary places in LBHF.  That is why I disagree with the planned closure of Sulivan School to make way for yet another free school.  I also think there is a massive difference between a bulge class on a purpose built site which I assume was your children's experience and the acquisition of an office block.I do not blame the WLFS for the population expansion but I do blame the DfE for raiding the Baisc Needs fund to make hand out to free schools and leaving LEAs unable to provide enough school places.full details here: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/10/gove-lunatic-raid-free-schoolsOut of interest do you have any comment to make about the staff turnover and the funding disparity at the WLFS or the taking of £400 million from the Basic Needs fund?  This does have implications for Acton, LBE and the rest of the country.

Andy Magee ● 4509d

Andy I think I should clarify that I am not a member of the NUT like you and so have no axe to grind here.Neither am I an expert on school funding but I do take an interest. I know there is a serious shortage of suitable school buildings and sites for new schools all over London, specifically in the densely populated inner Boroughs like Hammersmith. I haven't seen the office block that you describe but would be interested to know if the NUT has identified any more suitable buildings? I really don't want to think that this is this just another opportunity to knock the Free Schools. The argument raged on this forum for several years and then five parents quietly applied for every place as soon as it opened. The following year, nine parents applied for every place. OFSTED descended and was impressed. You did look at their report? Surely if the school is being set up in an area of need, then it has the same right to Basic funding as a directly managed school? Id love it if just for once the NUT stopped being so angry and tried a policy of co operation and support.

Maire Lowe ● 4509d

I am NOT a member of the NUT.  I am a local teacher and parent.  I have put forward my concerns about the WLFS and my objections to free school funding. I don't believe you have to be an expert on school finance to concede that it is unfair and disproportionate.  I am aware they received a good OFSTED rating and I am aware they are oversubscribed.  I make no apology for being passionate about equality of opportunity in inner-city education.  I just wish you would address the issues and not keep repeating the 'free school good : unions bad rhetoric.'

Andy Magee ● 4509d

Andy, your first post to this forum declared you and your wife to be members of the NUT. I didn't realise you had left the union. Your posts on the Free Schools mirror the policy statements of the NUT. You are invariably damming.I just point to some of the positive aspects of the schools occasionally. Don't think that can be called rhetoric. Do come to the Hustings on Wednesday. I'd love to meet you and I am sure we can find common ground.

Maire Lowe ● 4509d

Husband and daughter's theory (both education professionals) is that any school almost, given the resources that the Free Schools have had, could have used them to improve standards considerably....like is not being compared with like given the restriction in funding and support that "ordinary" state schools are faced with at the moment.It's the accountability that concerns me most. How can you compare progress/results/standards if the inputs are not transparent?

Sara Nathan ● 4509d

Maire,I did indeed leave the NUT several years ago.  For the record I am in the ATL.  I assume my opinions about free schools mirror that of the the NUT because we are both correct.  I am sorry they are damming but it is a policy that deserves to be damned.There are now an increasing number of education professionals, journalist, academics and politicians who,  on examining the facts, have expressed severe reservations about free schools.  They are not good for education and not good for west London, including the Acton ward you hope to represent.  Please don't just take my word for it.  Examine the facts, read the newspaper articles and academic research, challenge your party to justify the funding disparity and costs, the bizarre (lack of) strategic planning and lack of accountability.I have no problem being involved in constructive dialogue about education with you or other interested parties.  I think it is extremely important that we make best use of scarce resources and take advantage of some of the educational excellence that exists in this part of London.  If free schools are as successful as you and your party claim they will stand up to public scrutiny and accountability.

Andy Magee ● 4509d

I'm not a member of the NUT or even a teacher for that matter, but my views mirror those of Andy's and it seems the NUT. I'm sure that there must be something that disqualifies me from commenting (I don't vote Tory?), however, I  am a local parent with some children still at local schools. If considering the resources thrown at WLFS, it achieved anything less than 'good' from Ofsted, it would be disgraceful. Is it not possible to be deemed 'outstanding' in your first year!?

Sandra Jordan ● 4509d

I am not sure if it is possible in the first year, however, Holy Family School, a new primary opened in Acton in 2012 was judged outstanding inevery category in January 2014.  They moved to purpose built accommodation within 12 months of opening and have managed to retain their outstanding headteacher and all this without employing Toby three days a week.

Andy Magee ● 4509d

Good for Holy Family. An excellent school.

Maire Lowe ● 4509d

Hi Sandra you can find their very good report on their website. Even if Andy feels incapable of seeing any good in the school it was a solid achievement. Credit where it's due.

Maire Lowe ● 4509d

Maire - I'm never quite sure if you mean to be patronising. Maybe I'm just too sensitive.

Sandra Jordan ● 4509d

Sandra, I never mean to be patronising. Can't comment on your sensitivity as we haven't met but I do read your posts with interest. Why not come to the Hustings tomorrow night and we can say Hello?

Maire Lowe ● 4508d

A friend of mine was telling me about his son who is a school teacher here in London. He teaches physics to GCSE and A Level. His salary at an LEA controlled comprehensive was fixed by a national pay scale. He was offered a job at a free school for a higher wage. He has a post graduate degree in his subject. At the free school, in the science department, every teacher had a degree in the subject they taught although some of them would have been deemed unqualified by the unions because they don’t have teaching qualifications as opposed to expertise in their subject.He says he was the last teacher in his old school science department who had subject specific degree and that he was replaced by somebody with a B.Ed who he claims would struggle to get a C at A Level. He blames totally the teaching union for this situation.This apparently is not a new or uncommon phenomenon in state schools in London. Because there is such a high demand for qualified (in the sense of knowing their subject) science teacher they can get jobs well above national pay scales in private and free schools. The decline in standards at the LEA controlled schools has been alarming and falling standards in science have apparently been masked by more gentle marking.Ultimately the free school programme seems to be a way to gradually reduce the power of the teachers unions and ensure that standards, for at least some children, can be maintained in the state sector.

Andy Jones ● 4508d