Free Schools are defined by government as “state-funded schools set up in response to what local people say they want and need in order to improve education for children in their community”. It is an academy school which is free from local authority control, with funding going direct from the Department of Education to the school. To secure funding the community must outline in detail their proposals for the school and be able to demonstrate demand. They are not without controversy, but in the case of The Heights Primary, it is only being set up as a Free School because it’s the most effective way of providing a conventional two form entry Primary School capable of meeting the demand for places in North Reading and the high standards set by other schools in the area. It has been done with the full support of Reading Borough Council.

The Heights will be subject to Ofsted inspections just like any other school.  We had to pass a Pre-Opening inspection by Ofsted to ensure the school, it’s procedures and curriculum were firmly in place.

Yes, the Heights will be an Academy School.

No, we are not a faith school.  Children of all denominations are welcome to attend The Heights Primary and we will teach religious education in line with the national curriculum.

The Shadow Education Secretary said a few months ago that Labour would keep all good free schools open.  Free schools are state funded schools just like other academies. There are about 3,500 state funded academies in the country now, representing about 10% of all primaries and over half of all secondary schools.  It is very unlikely, even if a new Government decided to change the legal arrangements for academies, they would close them down.

Reading Borough Council, a Labour administration, has supported The Heights from the outset.