Details of All Free School Proposals Are Revealed by Order of the Information Tribunal

According to official numbers, about 25% of the free school applications over the past 2 years that were submitted to the government in the UK were from organisations affiliated to religious groups.

London, United Kingdom (prHWY.com) March 1, 2013 - The UK Department of Education reveals that about 25% of the free school applications over the past 2 years that were submitted to the government were from organisations affiliated to religious groups. The office preferred to withhold the information from the public but was forced to divulge it after they were ordered by the Information Commissioner to do so. Concerned about the order, Michael Gove showed his disappointment regarding their need to share information about all free school proposals, since not all of them got approved. He also expressed that he just wanted to be careful not to release unnecessary data to the public, exposing free school proposers to threats or any form of attack.

The official data released by the department is regarding the first three batches of applications their office received, containing details of the proposals for free schools. The religious affiliation of the free school proposals was specifically included in the second and third batches of application data released.

On closer inspection, the data clearly convey the fact that about a quarter and a half of the free school proposals the Department of Education received in the second and third clusters were intended to have some religious influence. They also reveal that some independent schools, 179 to be exact, are planning to convert to free schools and shift to the state sector.

A statement from another personnel at the Department of Education iterates, "A third of state schools have a faith designation compared to around a fifth of open free schools." She further said, "In addition, the proportion of applications to open a faith-designated free school has also gone down. It is ridiculous to suggest that the free schools programme is an easier way for faith schools to be established over another type of school."

The appeal for the release of data regarding free school proposals came from the British Humanist Association, Association of Colleges, and "The Guardian" newspaper. They petitioned for the details under the Freedom of Information Act.

The Department of Education was obliged to release the details of successful applicants but did not deem the same should apply for disapproved applicants. The Information Tribunal stated, however, that for public interest, details of all the applicants - whether they were approved or not - should be disclosed. They further iterated that the public has the right to know these information, since free schools will get a share of the public funds and have substantial influence on how education will be managed in the country.

The education secretary, a supporter of the free school scheme, disagrees with this idea, stating that organisations should be able to set up free schools without fear of attack from anti-free school groups or individuals.

Information Commissioner Christopher Graham is firm in his stand, however, that the public has the right to the details despite concerns from the department, since he believes its release does not, in any way, put free school proposers in danger or deter them from re-applying in the future.

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