Academies

New Schools Network to close after losing free schools contract

Charity says its original mission 'has been achieved' as board announces plans to wind up operations

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
Academies

New Schools Network loses DfE free schools support contract

Premier Advisory Group will take over DfE-funded free school application support from the NSN after 12 years

Tom Belger
Tom Belger
News

Unity Howard to stand down as New Schools Network director

The director of the New Schools Network Unity Howard is to step down this year, the charity has said....

Freddie Whittaker
Freddie Whittaker
News

‘Phoenix’ free schools should replace ‘stubborn’ underperformers, says report

The government should replace “stubbornly” underperforming schools with new “phoenix” free schools, rank multi-academy trusts on improvement and buy...

Tom Belger
Tom Belger
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

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
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
News

New free school applications process reveals workload push

The government has been accused of “unsubtly crow-barring” its need to reduce teacher workload into the new wave of...

Pippa Allen-Kinross
Pippa Allen-Kinross