A TRUST behind a failed bid to open a free school in South Oxfordshire has told the Department for Education (DfE) to change track or risk the policy failing.

New Oxford School Trust wanted to open an 800-pupil secondary school in Harwell, linked to Science Vale UK’s hi-tech companies and offering a curriculum focused on engineering, science and business.

Under the Government’s free schools policies, parents, charities or teachers can set up their own schools, funded by the state but free of local authority control.

But in July, the parents behind the Harwell plan failed to win Government ministers’ backing, because it had not demonstrated a strong demand for places.

Now project champion Joanna Birkett has written to Secretary of State Michael Gove saying that free school projects are collapsing because of the criteria they have to meet.

She said: “As it stands, the Government will not get the variety or some of the more interesting projects that have been put forwards.

“We still feel quite strongly we have a good proposal that is good for the county, and our impressions from businesses and parents were very positive.

“But it is difficult to see how to move ahead at the moment.”

Meanwhile, an ex-teacher’s plans for a 300-pupil skills-based secondary school in the Iffley Road area are gathering momentum.

Eylan Ezekiel, above, wants pupils at his proposed Oxford New School to have two three-hour lessons a day organised around skills rather than traditional subjects.

Mr Ezekiel, pictured, met county council officials, and now plans to speak with parents before holding a public meeting in November.

He said: “Some people I have spoken to, who have been working in education in the area for many years, have said this is exactly what the area needs.”

Last week, the Oxford Mail reported that businessman Mike Reed, of Iffley Road, wants to set up a 168-pupil primary school with extended hours to fit in with the working lives of parents.

Two Oxfordshire projects – one in the north of the county, the other The European School at Culham – are waiting to hear whether they have won ministerial approval after interviews with DfE officials in August.