LEYTON MP John Cryer has criticised proposals to open the borough's first ever Free School run by parents independently of council control.

Earlier this month a group of 15 parents and teachers, led by educational consultant Hakan Gokce, announced they wanted to open a 200 capacity primary school in Leytonstone under the new scheme established by the coalition Government.

They hope the school will open in 2012 with better paid teachers and longer working days, which they say will boost attainment and help ease the borough's shortage of classroom space.

But Labour MP Mr Cryer has said he fears the plan will draw resources away from other schools in the borough.

He said: "I went to the meeting the group held the other week and I think a lot of the parents involved are acting with the best intentions and genuinely want better education for their children, but I have very strong reservations about it.

"In the current circumstances of a Government cutting services left, right and centre, especially in education with the abolition of Building Schools for the Future and the Education Maintenance Allowance, I can't believe that somehow new resources will be magically produced for Free Schools.

"I think it's likely that resources will be taken from existing schools to fund them."

The Government has hit back at its critics and said Free Schools will give greater freedom and choice to parents and that other schools will not suffer as a result.

The application for the Free School in Leytonstone, which must gain Whitehall approval, has not yet been submitted.

The group are yet to find a site for the school but are hopeful they will shortly.

But Mr Cryer said: "With the site there are questions that need to be answered.

"I think they will struggle to find a ready-made school building that doesn't require any additional capital investment.

"I can perfectly understand why they are involved in this but I can't see how the sums will add up." No-one from the group was available for immediate comment this afternoon.

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