Listening to the debate that followed Michael Gove's announcement in the House of Commons yesterday that 55 new Free Schools and 13 University Technical Colleges have been approved to open in 2012 and beyond, I was impressed by the reaction of Stephen Twigg, Labour's new Shadow Education Secretary. He set out five "evidence-based" criteria by which he would judge Free Schools: Would they be good for their local communities, operate fair admissions policies, extend opportunities, drive up standards and close the attainment gap? (To read more, click here.)
