I would have thought that having stated this option as being the solution to our educational ills, there would be more interest in debating the issues. Proceeding with such a venture will involve a great deal more pressure and awkward questioning than could ever be found on se23.com.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%...CH&h=4aeaf

The above is a link from the schools's facebook page. I think people need to be clear about that issue, in that Barking and Dagenham turned down an application from a Montessori primary as the Montessori teachers were not considered qualified. The latest government response seems to be to look at removing the agreed QTS standard. I do think potential supporters and the local community ought to be aware of this point. Do people want unqualified staff teaching their children? Standards of training and expectations on performance in the state sector have risen considerably over the years. Do people not want to know what they are getting and to take comfort in the fact that most teachers have achieved a certain minimum agreed standard?
Gove seems intent on relaxing a number of rules including enabling a number of ex military folk to become teachers without the full training. Does that not scream second best to you?

From a personal perspective I also do resent the campaign for this school using the baby boom and Lewisham's alleged incompetence as marketing fodder for what is really a private educational enterprise proposing a marginal educational philosophy. There is indeed a great deal of pressure on future places over the next few years, and a great deal of work to be done, but Lewisham and other boroughs are actually doing a great deal of good work behind the scenes in discussion with teachers, heads and school governors, in order to plan ahead to provide adequate schooling for our children- not sitting doing nothing as is portrayed here.

The creation of a free school in Lewisham with public funds for the few who support Montessori would only serve to contort and further confuse supply and demand and probably have a negative impact on such provision as well as competing with state schools for valuable resources. I would therefore urge parents to think very carefully before they support such a route. A brand new school of course sounds great- much better than the make do , patch it up, and mend philosophy of tacking on portakabins for bulge classes here and there, however producing one to meet all of those objectives will not do much to solve things in the next few years . Personally I will be asking the awkward questions at every opportunity, as I do not want to see my children and their peers deprived for the reasons stated above.