Support for free school

When I look at education in Rotherham I am not here to call anyone insane. What I will say is that too many of our secondary schools are only satisfactory (1744 pupils in Rotherham last year left without 5 A*-C grades including English and maths) and our key stage 2 results are some of the worst in the country. Are parents and students happy with this?

What I will call insane is the vicious, co-ordinated, personal attacks on Charlotte Blencowe, who is going to be the first person to set up a free school in Rotherham.

Labour and their cronies can get as nasty as they like, over and over again but they can’t expect a different outcome.

This free school will go ahead for the benefit of our Rotherham young people. I have not been surprised with the nastiness of some particular Labour party members and Councillors.

I do not want however, some of the lies to be believed. This free school is not going to be elitist. It will have the same admissions policy of Rotherham LA.

What it will offer is revolutionary in education, with staff to pupil ratio higher, experts involved that are leading pioneers in our country in education and a leader who is passionate about education, especially in helping our some of our most deprived young people. I want to say to Charlotte, keep your head up, fight for what is right and ignore the Labour bullies.

You have my full support. And if Rotherham parents of current year 5 pupils want the best for their children’s education, contact Charlotte Blencowe and book your child a place.

Councillor Thomas Fenoughty Conservative spokesperson for Children and Young People