News

£2bn fund revealed for DfE free school property company

A company set up by the Department for Education (DfE) to buy new free school sites will be given a...

John Dickens
John Dickens
News

Free school bid changes pave way for more studio schools – despite spate of closures

New rules governing the opening of free schools could pave the way for more studio schools, it has been...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Deprivation study finds grammars, faith and primary free schools ‘biased’ against poor pupils

Grammar schools and free schools may be exacerbating social segregation, new research released today shows. Analysis of the deprivation...

Sophie Scott
Sophie Scott
News

Fears of ‘free-for-all’ as government opens up free school bid criteria

New free schools will be allowed to open if their proposers can demonstrate a “social need” or “significant demand”...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

Finances of collapsed academy chain Lilac Sky under scrutiny as founders eye new free school

The financial management of a collapsed academy chain is being scrutinised by the government after it stepped in to block...

John Dickens
John Dickens
News

Delayed free school cancelled over site issues

A free school plagued by delays has now been scrapped without teaching a single pupil after problems finding a site –...

John Dickens
John Dickens
News

School loses high court bid to gag Ofsted publishing ‘inadequate’ inspection report

A free school has lost a high court challenge to gag Ofsted from publishing a damning inspection report –...

John Dickens
John Dickens
News

High court backs government in landmark free school site ruling

A high court judge has ruled in favour of the government in a landmark planning battle over a free...

John Dickens
John Dickens
News

Cameron unveils 31 new free schools on last visit as PM – but details are thin

David Cameron has unveiled the latest wave of approved free school applications, in one of his final acts as...

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker