I HAD to check the date of Wednesday’s edition of the Northern Echo in disbelief to make sure it wasn't April Fool's Day when I read the article about Polam Hall School opening as a 'free' school.

Polam has been an independent school for innumerable years funded by fee-paying parents. All of a sudden (due to fees drying up), the school persuades the Government to allow it to convert to a state-funded free school, still not within the remit of the local authority, and yes, you've guessed it, funded by tax-payers.

No wonder the headteacher states '.. it is very gratifying to be able to extend our educational offering to so many', we are paying for it.

Talk about smoke and mirrors. What a con.

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