News

Safeguarding failures exposed at free school where staff had ‘too many responsibilities’

Vulnerable children were put at serious risk because stretched staff had “too many responsibilities” to carry out safeguarding duties,...

James Carr
James Carr
News

DfE names 21 free schools approved in wave 14

Twenty-one more free schools have been approved under wave 14 of the programme, which is again dominated by multi-academy...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Free schools can follow Nightingale lead

The rapid creation of temporary Nightingale hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic shows free schools shouldn’t have to wait for...

Simon Kay
Simon Kay
News

Coronavirus: New free schools face disruption after building delays

New schools due to open this September are facing delays as construction is suspended or delayed as a result...

James Carr
James Carr
News

DfE property firm’s boss got £30k bonus, despite missed value-for-money target

The boss of the Department for Education’s property company received a £30,000 bonus last year, despite the organisation missing...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Free schools have a ‘branding problem’ says NSN director

Free schools have a “branding problem” and the “political will” behind them has diminished in recent years, the director...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

New free school bids round leaves AP out in the cold

The government’s latest free school wave does not allow applications for new alternative provision, despite a major pledge from...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Licence fees to almost double for cash-strapped UTCs

The Baker Dearing Trust is set to double the membership fee that university technical colleges have to pay, meaning...

John Dickens
John Dickens
Opinion

7 ways to reinvigorate the free schools policy

Since 2010 free schools have helped to transform our education system, bringing high standards, new innovations from which other...

John Dickens
LUKE TRYL