Geri Halliwell: Former Spice Girl launches her own free school

Geri Halliwell – now Geri Horner – has had talks with founders of the first wave of free schools about the possibility of a partnership

(PA)

Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell – now Geri Horner – has her sights set on a new form of empowerment – education.

The singer, who married F1 boss Christian Horner in May, has been in talks to set up a free school. The star has met with Downing Street and Department for Education officials setting out her ideas.

She has also had talks with founders of the first wave of free schools about the possibility of a partnership.

She told The Mail on Sunday: “I believe in education. It’s an empowering fundamental human right that everyone deserves. Education is a foundation for life.”

The co-educational secondary school, which is expected to be built near her north London home, will specialise in the arts and business. Mrs Horner, whose daughter Bluebell was born in 2006, is determined to help teenagers fulfil their potential.

A grammar school pupil from Watford, she burst onto the music scene in the 1990s as one-fifth of the Spice Girls.

A Department for Education spokesman said: “All applications are rigorously assessed and must meet our high standards.”

Nicknamed Ginger Spice for her hair, she led the call for “Girl Power” and claimed Margaret Thatcher was the ‘original Spice Girl’.