Kevin Brennan MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Minister, has today written to Education Secretary Michael Gove with concerns over the Government’s Free Schools programme.

The full text of the letter below:

Rt Hon Michael Gove MP

Secretary of State for Education

Department for Education

20 Great Smith Street

SW1P 3PT

Thursday October 24th, 2013

Dear Michael,

The publication of the Ofsted inspection into the Al-Madinah Free School last week exposed the systematic failings of your government’s Free Schools programme.

Labour has long warned of the dangers of the Free Schools programme such as the lack of adequate oversight; the use of unqualified teachers; and their prioritisation ahead of addressing areas that desperately need new school places.

Today we learn from reports in the Guardian newspaper that Ministers signed off on plans to scale back oversight and vetting of Free Schools. This is a deeply disturbing allegation and one, given the Deputy Prime Minister’s comments on 5 September 2011 at a speech in Wandsworth that he was “confident we have mitigated those risks [associated with Free Schools]”, that I find difficult to fathom.  Therefore, I want to draw your attention to the report and seek clarification on a number of points:

-   Can you confirm or deny that Ministers were presented with proposals to reduce the oversight and/or the vetting of new Free Schools within the Department for Education?

-   A DfE spokesperson is reported as having refused to say how, why and when the previously agreed policy was changed. Can you confirm details of any chances in policy on the scrutiny, vetting and financial oversight of Free Schools?

-   Will you publish, in full, the proposals (both those considered and agreed) on changes to the policy, or will you continue to maintain the lack of transparency that surrounds the Free Schools programme?

-   Can you confirm or deny that you signed off on a proposal despite being warned by civil servants that, as the Guardian reported, “The risk is that Free School proposals will not be subject to financial scrutiny”. And if so, do you stand by that decision?

-   Can you confirm or deny that Ministers signed off on proposals to scrap Principal Designate Assessment Centres (PDACs) despite the warning that “without PDACs, some Free School projects may appoint inexperienced principal designates who are not suitable, which would significantly undermine the success of the school”?

I look forward to receiving your response.

Regards,

Kevin Brennan MP

Shadow Schools Minister