Gove's free schools teach a hard lesson

摘要

We won't be getting Richard Rogers to design your school," Michael Gove famously declared to an audience of free school pioneers in 2011. It would seem the education secretary is a man of his word. Two years later, Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners was invited to pitch for a free school project in Hackney. The practice was later told that the school was "delighted" with its proposed concept. But the bid was rejected - a decision the practice believes reflects an unwavering desire to drive down costs.