Photo by Joe Duty

It seems that our bid was considered to be strong by the DfE and other experts, so we are still struggling to understand why we were turned down. A more detailed analysis will follow on the on  this website but we feel that this was the wrong decision, and that the reasons given insufficiently clear or strong.

We are very proud that the DfE said:

"Your application’s vision and moral purpose to provide a small, secular school that will improve the outcomes and destinations for students, particularly those from a disadvantaged background, is strong."

The clarity of our vision was, in large part, thanks to the parents and local organisations who urged us on!  We wanted to say "Thank You" to all of those who gave their support. Thank you for believing in the idea of a small, progressive secondary school for Oxford.

Of course, as a team, we are personally gutted by this decision. But we are mostly disappointed that a much needed new school will not now be opened in time for the bulge in pupil numbers to hit the local schools. There was a chance to answer a basic need, do things differently, and improve this outcomes of young people in the city.

We can say that we did this project with integrity, stayed true to our values and the principles of social justice, did not resort to negative campaigning and engaged as positively as we could with even our fiercest detractors.

Like many of you, we are busy parents, on modest incomes and busy working lives. We had no sponsors or financial backers. We did this for the right reasons and in the right way. This is some consolation.

As things stand, we do not have the resources to try to apply in the free school process again next year.  We have learned an enormous amount and intend to share as much of this as possible. If we can find other ways to turn our hard work into something positive, we will; and are open to hearing your ideas.

If you’d like to keep in touch with our team or find out more detail about our project, as we publish summaries from our 'retrospectives' to share our learning, please keep an eye on the website www.onschool.org.uk

 Thank you

We are reviewing the reasons given and will publish our considered response in the very near future.

Thank you for all the good wishes and support.

More soon.

The ONSchool Team

I took it in person, partly because we were close to the deadline and I did not trust any postal service!

But also for the sense of occasion!  After months of hard work, this was it. This was the culmination of hundreds of hours of unpaid effort and commitment from a great team.

So, would it have been nice to have had a fanfare? YES! Bunting and a handshake to say:

"Well done! You made it - despite all the hurdles we put before you. Whether or not you get our approval - the very act of handing in a detailed 148 page document is a huge achievement. You did this despite poor odds of success, increasing complexity and tightening criteria - being forced to put your heads above the parapet and taking this proposal in front of peers, friends and your local community.

You have stood in the rain, answered tough questions from antagonistic people against the policy and the government - yet you won them over. You engaged with the local community, having challenging conversations with local officials and school leaders. 

Your team met and struggled to do this after a full day of work and childcare. You worked through complex issues and found agreement - you created a team and got it done.

You did all of this for no financial return, no expectation of jobs, no guarantee of success.

So - thank you and well done."

Instead - a busy lady signed for my documents and indicated that I finished my business - and could (should) go.  So, I did.

And now we wait. If we are invited to interviews, held between March and April, then we will have a chance of being approved in May this year. That is what we did this for and we hope we make it and are judged fairly.

Wish us well.

As you can see in the video below (while availability lasts) Kirsty Wark questioned Eylan Ezekiel on the need for the school. Making the case for 'choice', even when there are enough places in an area, Mark Lehain, Principal of the Bedford Free School, spoke up for the dynamism that the Free School policy can bring to local schools.

Eylan pointed out that choice was a complex concept, especially in education - and that where there was a stronger case for bringing innovation into the school system, where schools are needed.

Eylan demonstrated that in Oxford there is a case for more places and opportunity to improve outcomes, for more of the young people who live in our diverse city.

Sign up and support our proposal here.

Links through to BBC iPlayer.

Eylan has been a little embarrassed by being filmed - but Zoe's film-making expertise and Stig's creative animation have turned some very amateur performances into great little films.

Please share and enjoy.

ONSchool - New Secondary School for Oxford in 2014 from Zoe Broughton on Vimeo.

ONSchool from Zoe Broughton on Vimeo.

ONSchool - some frequently asked questions, animated! from Zoe Broughton on Vimeo.

ONSchool - some more frequently asked questions, animated! from Zoe Broughton on Vimeo.

ONSchool had previously stated an intention to focus purely on OX1 and OX4. We are announcing today that our admissions will be broader, and include OX2 and OX3.

This means that parents in OX2 and OX4 can support ONSchool and register today.

This change is a result of two factors, the first of which relates to the number of places needed in the existing schools and the planning developments in the City.

By 2016 there will be an additional 918 places needed in secondary schools in Oxford. Pressure from developments in the North of Oxford will drive changes in catchments and more families will fail to get their first choice.  ONSchool will provide a new first choice to hundreds of parents in the city.

In 2014, ONSchool will admit 100 children into the first year of secondary school (Year 7). There will be plenty of places 'to go around' - and by widening our intake, ONSchool can help relieve pressure on existing schools.

While we do not believe that 'choice' is a term that can be used simply in education - especially in a city where there is so much selection by mortgage - ONSchool will provide a new option for more parents, for a 21st Century education.

ONSchool admissions will continue to give higher weighting, in admissions, to a percentage of children from specific postcodes in OX1 and OX4 - to ensure diversity from across the communities of our city. That said, this still means many more parents will be able to make us their first choice.

The second reason for our change relates to sites and transport. We believe we have identified sites that will allow us to serve OX1 and OX4 - while making it accessible to those from other postcodes. The more parents that support our proposal, the more strength we will have in terms of securing a great site. Sign up today

ONSchool will cover 11-16 (rather than 11-18)

Why? We have been doing very detailed work in the local landscape of education, and we know that Oxford needs more secondary school places. Based on the newest figures from Oxford County Council, we know that:

In 2014 there will be an extra 196 Yr 7 places needed
In 2016 there will be an extra 315 Yr 7 places needed
By 2016 there will be an extra 918 places 11-16, needed in secondary schools

Our research has shown that, post 16, the facts are that there is sufficient and good (even some  'Outstanding' according to Ofsted)  provision. There is currently no projected need and planned capacity for all post 16 pathways. Much of this is organised through The Oxford City Consortium. This is a partnership of the Oxford City secondary schools and College of Further Education, offering high quality courses to 16-19 year olds. The five existing schools, Cheney, Cherwell, Oxford, Oxford Academy, St. Gregory the Great Catholic School and the College of Further Education have worked co-operatively for the past 12 years to provide a range of post-16 courses and training opportunities for 16-19 year olds. So we do not need to add to this.

We also believe that this will allow us to focus on creating excellence and innovation in Key Stage 3 and 4.  While we believe ONSchool will add considerable value, dynamism and much needed places to the secondary system in the city, we cannot make a clear case for providing a 6th form, apart from that it would be nice to have. This is not enough of a reason, especially in an age of austerity.

By 2015, all young people will have to stay in education till 18, and through excellent Information, Advice and Guidance, will ensure that ONSchool will prepare them with the qualifications, skills, confidence and choices to make the choice of post 16 provision to enable them to thrive, from the options already available across the city.

We know some parents will 'expect' an academic 6th form as part of a school, but we do not believe it is right to put parental preconceptions before the needs of young people across city. We are creating a different type of school to the average. ONSchool will be a small school, dedicated to an exceptional education, and to delivering a unique vision. Does one institution have to try to do everything and struggle to do them well enough, just to achieve economies of scale? This is surely not sustainable, as options grow with our interconnected world. Not every school can or should teach both Cantonese and Latin!

To some extent, this is the reality already (once you look beyond the marketing on the websites of our established schools). The five schools  using the Consortium do so because no one school can cater for all the needs, post 16.  Everyone shares already and we plan to be part of that ecosystem. We already have good relationships with the heads and governors in these schools, and hope that this shows our commitment to the wider community and the wellbeing of all the schools, children and staff that work there.

We will be publishing the detail of our plans over the forthcoming weeks, so please watch this space. If you have any questions about this - please get in touch or comment below.

How does it work? Well, take a look at it in practice:

High Tech High

Schools can do this. We can do this.

Support our proposal and register now.

What is a Start Up?  "A startup is a human institution designed to deliver a new product or service under conditions of extreme uncertainty. "

It is that uncertainty this blog post will tackle. We get lots of questions, from parents and local people. We are also very aware that our hardest test will be in front of a 'dragons den' at the Department for Education - of independent experts who will test all aspects of our vision.

There are risks (mostly for the team proposing ONSchool) in putting this application to the Government. Yes, there are questions, uncertainties and fears. We cannot answer all of them on Facebook, here in blog posts, or in meetings- or know what is how to bring you (dear reader) from interest to active support.

Parents worry that their kids will be the 'first' at this new, unproven school. The fact that the school will be staffed by experienced teachers, lead by those with a track record in delivering excellence, educating using best practice, proven by evidence - still doesn't answer that worry that the 'new' creates within us.

We cannot magic up years of parents and history for ONSchool - but we want to create that with you because we believe it is what this city needs, and parents tell us this is what they want.

Like any 'start up', there is an opportunity that is driving us - a chance to do something amazing.

Most local parents feel that the local secondary schools are not quite delivering the modern education that they want for their kids. But, they did not have any choice before (unless they could afford a private education).

ONSchool will be that choice. 

A small secondary school staffed by brilliant teachers - led by and for the community. Innovative, progressive, democratic, and with the highest standards of education and care.

What's not to believe in?

We get that people have questions. Keep asking, because it helps us shape a better answer.

All we ask is that you support our chance to present this proposal to the Government. Without evidence that parents in the city at least want this option - you will be stuck with a system under increasing pressure.

So - support our start up. Support our vision for an education that is personalised, healthy, community focussed and switched on to our modern world.

Register your support today