Labour is set to ditch up to 44 new free schools that were announced by the Tories, including three being set up by Eton.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced yesterday each one would get a ‘review’ on ‘whether the school should open’.
The move signals an end to the previous Government’s flagship programme, which was championed by former Education Secretary Michael Gove.
They were aimed at driving up standards by providing more choice for parents and creating more competition between schools.
However, with a projected decline in pupil numbers, Labour wants put less money into new schools and instead use it to renovate existing ones.
Labour is set to ditch up to 44 new free schools that were announced by the Tories, including three being set up by Eton. PICTURED: The main courtyard on the campus of Eton College
Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson, leaves Downing Street after a Cabinet Meeting. Cabinet Meeting In Downing Street, London, England
It is understood three of those facing the axe include state sixth forms in Oldham, Dudley and Middlesbrough, being set up by Eton College with Star Academies.
The projects have been in the pipeline for several years and will cost tens of millions of pounds.
Eton, the £52,000-a-year private school, intends to contribute about £1 million annually per school, and to offer online teaching and support.
All three will be selective state sixth forms and are said to be in areas where extra places are needed for that age group.
Yesterday Mrs Phillipson said she needed to free up cash to ‘improve the deteriorating condition of our existing schools and colleges’.
She said: ‘I have therefore asked officials to review the mainstream free schools planned by the last government, that have not yet opened.
‘We will look at whether they will meet a need for places in their local area and offer value for taxpayers’ money…’There are 44 centrally delivered, mainstream projects where we will engage with local authorities and trusts to review whether the school should open.’
Free schools are state-funded academies which are not controlled by the local authority and generally have more freedom than others.
The move signals an end to the previous Government’s flagship programme, which was championed by former Education Secretary Michael Gove (pictured)
Over the last 14 years more than 650 have been established in England.
But Labour have always criticised them for being ‘ideologically driven’ and in some cases they have created a surplus of places where they are not needed.
Those facing the axe now are in ‘wave 15’ of the programme.
The Eton Star academies already have locations and were expected to open in the next three or four years.
The recruitment of pupils will be selective but will focus on young people on free school meals or who live in particularly deprived areas.
About 40 per cent of the country’s school estate needs replacing, according to an internal audit of state schools across England commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE).
Last year, several state schools could not fully open at the start of term in September because of crumbling concrete and this problem continues at some.
The government said: ‘We inherited a school estate in need of urgent repair, and we are committed to improving it for staff and pupils, but the dire state of the public finances means this will not be a quick fix.’