Britain’s strictest school to open second free school after government backing

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The new Michaela Community School, renowned for its “no excuses” behaviour policy, is one of 22 free schools given the green light in a bid to create thousands more places. Katharine Birbalsingh, headteacher of Michaela Community School, told The Independent that she is “excited” to expand, adding that she would like to open five or six free schools. “At a time when there is so much division around the country, giving more faith schools the green light to discriminate on religious grounds will lead to greater levels of segregation between pupils from different religious, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.” Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “We do not agree with increasing the number of schools that can select 100 per cent of their intake based on faith. This is not the way to deliver greater equality within our education system.” Independent Minds Events: get involved in the news agenda Luke Tryl, Director of New Schools Network, which provides support for the creation of new free schools, said: "These approvals mean that some of the areas most desperately in need of greater educational opportunity will soon have innovative and successful new schools opening their doors to the community.” “The range of different schools approved today demonstrates that the free schools policy continues to lead the way in driving innovation across education in England."