United Kingdom
Conservatives fall out over policy for Swedish-style 'free schools'
The Tories' flagship plan for Swedish-style 'free schools' to boost standards has been attacked by one of the party's own local government leaders amid growing anxiety over the proposals.
Michael Gove, the shadow education secretary, argues that creating up to 2,000 new schools, funded by the state but independent of town hall control, would give parents more choice by forcing existing schools to improve.
However Les Lawrence, the chairman of the Children and Young People board on the Local Government Association and a Tory councillor, told a select committee inquiry last week that the Swedish free school system had divided some communities that it was meant to benefit. Sweden was now "beginning to wonder whether they need to go in the opposite direction", he added.
Sourced from: The Guardian
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