Free school setback

THE principal designate of the Phoenix Free School, which is aiming for an opening next September, has resigned.

Rick Hodges has returned to Canada after failing to get a reference from his last employer there. This meant he couldn’t get criminal records clearance to work.

The job has now been advertised in the Times Education Supplement with a salary of £60,000 and “potential for substantial increase in subsequent years”.

Free schools are state-funded but free from local-authority control. Phoenix will staffed entirely by former military personnel. Negotiations for a suitable site are taking place with Oldham Council.

Mr Hodge flew Tornado F3 fighters in the RAF before spending 11 years working in independent schools, mainly in the West Country, progressing from physics teacher to head of science.

The 50 year old was a physics and engineering lecturer at the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada and sailed single-handedly across the Atlantic five years ago.

Phoenix project leader Tom Burkard said: “Rick was unable to get a reference from his last employer in Prince Edward Island, although he had an excellent one from Godolphin School, his last employer but one.

“He claimed the authorities in Prince Edward Island would not release information to the Disclosure and Barring Service which has replaced the Criminal Record Bureau. Unfortunately, this was something of a game stopper.

“We are virtually certain we will get a first-class candidate. Even before advertising, we have been deluged with applicants who want to work at Phoenix in any capacity.”


PARENTS can find out more about the Phoenix Free School at a meeting at St Barnabas church hall, Arundel Street, Clarksfield, from 5.30pm-8pm on Thursday.
Tom Burkard will talk before taking questions.

Oldham’s first free school, Collective Spirit, opened in Chadderton in September.