VIDEO: Free school stories: LIPA Primary School

Free schools are new independent state schools. Charities, groups of teachers, existing schools and parents can set up these new schools if they can prove that they are needed and wanted by a local community. Free schools are set up for many different reasons so New Schools Network followed six as they got ready to open for the first time this September. This is the story of LIPA Primary School.

Right in the heart of one of the UK’s cultural capitals, LIPA Primary School is offering parents a very creative alternative to the usual primary experience.

The school is sponsored by the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) – a centre of excellence for the performing arts, which was co-founded by Sir Paul McCartney – and Edge Hill University, a leading provider of teacher training.

Drawing on its freedoms as a free school, LIPA Primary School teaches its pupils through a curriculum based around projects and events, rather than individual subjects. This is brought to life through the world class facilities at LIPA and strong links with arts organisations across the city.

This makes the school very different to what’s already on offer in Liverpool but the school isn’t just about offering parents more choice. It’s also helping to meet a real need for new primary school places, right in the middle of this fast growing city.

So far, this is proving very popular – with the school already well oversubscribed for its first and second years of opening.

NSN followed LIPA Primary School as it got ready to open its doors for the first time in September 2014.