SCHOOLS are not on the town council agenda, according to the Mayor of Minehead.

The comments were made after a parent suggested setting up a free school in Minehead to “give young people a choice of schools in Minehead and surrounding areas.”

When the County Gazette asked Cllr Les Smith what he thought about the notion he responded: “At my age I don’t really think about colleges and schools.

“It’s not something I think the town council decides on.”

The notion of a free school was put forward by Lee Webb on the West Somerset College Raising Standards Facebook group.

A free school is funded by the Government, but is not run by the local council. It is run on a not-for-profit basis, and can be set up by groups such as charities, businesses, teachers and parents.

The suggestion by Mr Webb, who is a member of the parent pressure group behind the campaign to raise standards at West Somerset College, has sparked some debate among parents and campaigners.

Mr Webb, who has a son in Year 9 at the college, said: “I think that a lot more parents have lost faith in the college than those who openly admit it.

“A free school would offer parents a choice – one which they do not currently have.

“Opening a free school may just be the competition that WSC needs to seriously improve.

“I’m willing, along with the admin of the pressure group, to take a serious look into a free school as an option.

“It’s really too early to say if this is a viable option and it may turn out that it’s not.

“As a community we are constantly being told regarding WSC that there is nothing we can do, year we cannot sit by and watch year upon year our children suffer."

The Steiner Academy in Frome is currently the only free school in Somerset, though the Mendip Free School is due to open later this year.

Though the idea by Mr Webb is only a suggestion, Bridgwater and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger has warned the parents not to give up on the college just yet.

He said: “Every parent has the right to start up a free school and I would support them in that.

“But there are a few problems that would have to be overcome, such as where would it be built?

“I would ask the parents to wait and see what happens with the discussions of sponsorship of West Somerset College by Bridgwater College.

“I believe that if it goes ahead changes will be seen at the [West Somerset] college.”

In order to open a free school an application must be made to the Department of Education.