A £21m contract has been awarded to a private Swedish company to provide education at a proposed free school in Brandon.

The 10-year contract for Breckland Free School was won by Internationella Engelska Skolan (IES) UK, the British arm of a private profit-making Swedish company which runs chains of free schools in Sweden.

The contract is believed to be the most extensive of its kind so far announced as part of a free school proposal, although Sabres Educational Trust – the group wanting to set up the school – would manage the contract, hold IES UK to account, and be fully responsible and in control over what happened in the school.

Chairman of Sabres, Gordon Warnes, said the Swedish firm had been chosen because of its desire to produce “outstanding education” for young people.

He added: “Breckland Free School will become part of a worldwide network of international schools providing an amazing array of opportunities for students and community.”

If given the go-ahead, the free school would open with 300 pupils in September next year, with years seven, eight and nine, reaching its full capacity in 2014.

Analysis:
The Telegraph
James Hargraves blog