News

Government ‘propping up’ free schools with loans

The government has been accused of propping up under-subscribed free schools with “interest-free loans”, while academies and council schools...

John Dickens
John Dickens
News

Where will the next wave of free schools be? We still don’t know…

Free school applicants claim they have been “left in the dark” by the delay in announcing the latest successful...

John Dickens
John Dickens
News

Bolton Wanderers Free School under fire over promises in DfE application forms

The closing Bolton Wanderers Free School (BWFS) is facing more scrutiny after promises in its original application appear not...

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Bolton Wanderers Free School paid £600k in rent and bills to football club

An “inadequate” school linked to a former premier league football club and now closing in August because of financial...

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

Pension row delays Bright Tribe free school takeover

A long-running squabble over a pension deficit has seriously delayed a major multi-academy trust from taking over a failing...

Jess Staufenberg
Jess Staufenberg
News

Football club’s free school to close with £500,000 debt

A free school set up by Bolton Wanderers Football Club will close later this year owing the government £500,000...

Billy Camden
Billy Camden
News

NAO capital funding report: £6.7bn needed to rebuild crumbling schools, and 8 other key findings

The National Audit Office today published its report into capital funding for schools. We have the nine key findings....

John Dickens
John Dickens
News

Government to rebroker Manchester free schools founded by charity boss

Two free schools in Greater Manchester will be re-brokered to new multi-academy trusts after one was placed into special...

Jess Staufenberg
Jess Staufenberg
News

No council cash for new free schools in Manchester

Manchester City Council is refusing to budget for three of the four free schools due to open in the...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker