MORE than a third of parents in the North-East think the standard of schools in their local area is average or worse, according to a new survey.

The survey, carried out by opinion research company Populus on behalf of the New Schools Network - a charity set up to promote more free schools within the state sector - the survey suggests there is widespread parental dissatisfaction with local school choice in the region.

More than half (57 per cent) of North-East patients who took part in the survey believed that the number of places available is not good.

Reflecting the national picture, one in four (26 per cent) in the North-East would have chosen a different school if they had had a chance.

In more detail, more than half (51 per cent) of parents think the range of schools in their area is not good. One in five believe the school their child attends is average or worse and more than one in four (26 per cent) said there is another school in their area they would have preferred to send their child to.

When free schools were described to respondents in the North-East 82 per cent of those expressing a view said they would welcome the chance to have a free school in their area and 71 per cent would consider sending their child to a free school if one opened in their area.

Free schools are state-financed schools which are free of local authority control and often set up by groups of parents, charities or religious groups.

When asked what matters in a good school and how their own school measure up 97 per cent of North-East parents said the quality of teaching is important or very important, but only 81 per cent rate their school as good or very good.

Parents in the North-East are also significantly more likely to support a longer school day (71 per cent) both through more lessons (69 per cent) and more after-school clubs and activities (84 per cent).

Natalie Evans, director of the New Schools Network, said: “With just under half of all parents in the North-East rating the number of places available as good or very good, it is perhaps not surprising that a growing number of families in the area are interested in alternatives, such as free schools.”