Ex Labour aide’s free school ready to open
A former aide for the Labour government is aiming to start a free school in order to improve levels of literacy in the UK, it has been revealed.
Peter Hyman, who wrote speeches for Tony Blair, is about to begin recruiting staff for his new educational centre, which will be largely based on innovative methods of teaching.
Speaking to the Guardian, Mr Hyman said his ambition is to narrow the gap between the "richest and poorest" students and to ensure that all pupils get the same chance at a quality education.
Having spent the ten years since leaving 10 Downing Street working as a teacher, he has gained the experience needed to open one of the 55 free schools approved in the second wave of such applications.
The facility, named School 21, will educate four to 18-year-olds in Stratford, east London, which has previously been named as one of the most deprived areas of the city.
According to the Department for Education, free schools are state-funded providers of education that are removed from government control. They are to be set up in response to the needs of local communities.
