Archbishop John Sentamu is wrong about free schools on every count

John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, has never been shy about courting publicity. He frequently churns out controversial opinion pieces for the red-tops and, just in case they don’t receive enough attention, he’s in the habit of re-issuing them as ‘press releases’. (You can see a list of the most recent here).

He has opinions on almost everything, from same-sex marriage (against) to William and Kate’s decision to live together before their wedding (in favour). But with his latest outburst about free schools, the tabloid bishop has jumped the shark.

Free schools, according to Sentamu, only benefit the well-off and divert millions of pounds from more deserving neighbouring state schools. They only appeal to ‘people with means’, he said, and dismissed the concept of school choice as a waste of resources.

‘What should have happened is that the Government should have invested all that money in raising the level of achievement in schools that are less achieving, not by putting in these so-called competing places,’ he said.