Free school (England)

{{Short description|Independent state-funded schools in England}} {{About|independent state-funded schools in England||Free school (disambiguation)}} {{update|date=February 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} [[File:Michaela Community School Buildings January 2022.jpeg|thumb|Michaela Community School is a free school with sixth form in London.]]

A '''free school''' in England is a type of academy established since 2010 under the Cameron–Clegg government's free school policy initiative.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2010-to-2015-government-policy-academies-and-free-schools/2010-to-2015-government-policy-academies-and-free-schools|title=2010 to 2015 government policy: academies and free schools|website=GOV.UK|language=en|access-date=3 January 2019}}</ref> From May 2015, usage of the term was formally extended to include new academies set up via a local authority competition.<ref name=FreeSchoolPresumption>{{cite web|title=The free school presumption|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/451377/Academy_and_free_school_presumption_departmental_advice_2.pdf|website=Gov.uk|publisher=Department for Education|access-date=16 August 2015}}</ref> Like other academies, free schools are non-profit-making, state-funded schools which are free to attend but which are mostly independent of the local authority.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harrison |first=Angela |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10138787 |title=What will make a school 'free'? |work=BBC News |date= 26 May 2010|access-date=26 May 2010}}</ref>{{efn| Free school is not a generic term for any school that does not charge fees.}}

==Description== Like all academies, free schools are governed by non-profit charitable trusts that sign funding agreements with the Education Secretary.<ref name=CharitableTrust>{{cite web|title=Charities and charity trustees – an introduction for school governors|url=http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Charity_requirements_guidance/Specialist_guidance/Education/introduction_for_school_governors.aspx|work=Charity Commission Website|access-date=15 May 2013|archive-date=21 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221103330/https://www.gov.uk/topic/running-charity|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=FundingAgreement>{{cite web|title=Information for Free Schools opening in 2013 and beyond: Free School model funding agreement|url=http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/freeschools/b00222077/pre-opening/funding-agreement|work=Department for Education Website|access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref> There are different model funding agreements for single academy trusts and multi academy trusts.<ref name=ModFundAgreement>{{cite web|title=Free Schools model funding agreement|url=http://education.gov.uk/a0074737/funding-agreement|work=Department for Education Website|access-date=21 May 2013}}</ref><ref name=FreeSchoolChains>{{cite web|title=Governance Models and Challenges for Free School Chains|url=http://newschoolsnetwork.org/sites/default/files/Governance%20Models%20%26%20Challenges%20for%20FS%20Chains.pdf|work=New Schools Network Website|access-date=21 May 2013|archive-date=24 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424210540/http://newschoolsnetwork.org/sites/default/files/Governance%20Models%20%26%20Challenges%20for%20FS%20Chains.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is possible for a local authority to sponsor a free school in partnership with other organisations, provided they have no more than a 19.9 per cent representation on the board of trustees.<ref name="FreeSchoolGovernanceHandbook">{{cite web|title=Governance handbook: For academies, multi-academy trusts and maintained schools|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/582868/Governance_Handbook_-_January_2017.pdf|website=Gov.uk|publisher=Department for Education|access-date=23 November 2017}}</ref> Studio schools and university technical colleges are both sub-types of free school.<ref name=FreeSchoolDefn>{{cite web|title=Education Terms: Free Schools|url=http://www.education.gov.uk/vocabularies/educationtermsandtags/7123|work=DfE Website|publisher=Department for Education|access-date=3 May 2014}}</ref>

== Policy creation and implementation == Free schools were introduced by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition following the 2010 general election as part of the Big Society initiative to make it possible for parents, teachers, charities and businesses to set up their own schools.<ref name=GovUKSettingUpFreeSchool>{{cite web|title=Setting up a Free School|url=https://www.gov.uk/set-up-free-school|work=GOV.UK Quick Answer|access-date=23 April 2013}}</ref> Free schools are an extension of the existing academies programme.<ref name="bbc-qa">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10161371 Q&A: Academies and free schools], BBC News, 22 July 2010</ref> The Academies Act 2010, which allowed all existing state schools to become academies, also authorised the creation of free schools. The first 24 free schools opened in autumn 2011.<ref name="policy">[https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/increasing-the-number-of-academies-and-free-schools-to-create-a-better-and-more-diverse-school-system Increasing the number of academies and free schools to create a better and more diverse school system] Policy.</ref>

The Education Act 2011 gave rise to the '''academy/free school presumption'''; Government advice which clarified that any local authority in need of a new school must in most circumstances seek proposals for an academy or free school,<ref name=DfEAdviceNewSchools>{{cite web|title=Establishing a new school advice for LAs and proposers|url=http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/advice/f00209212/establishing-new-school|work=Department for Education Website|access-date=13 April 2013}}</ref> with a traditional community school only being allowed if no suitable free school or academy is proposed.<ref name=EdAct2011Schedule11>{{cite web|title=Schedule 11: Establishment of new schools|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/21/schedule/11/enacted|work=Education Act 2011|access-date=13 April 2013}}</ref> In July 2015 the advice was renamed the '''free school presumption''' reflecting the fact that the newly elected Conservative Government regarded ''all'' new academies established after May 2015 as free schools.<ref name=FreeSchoolPresumption/> === Similar models in other countries === The free school concept is based on similar schools found in Sweden,<ref name=SwedishFreeSchools>{{cite web|title=Free Schools in Sweden|url=http://newschoolsnetwork.org/free-schools/international-examples/free-schools-sweden|work=New Schools Network Website|access-date=23 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928000509/http://newschoolsnetwork.org/free-schools/international-examples/free-schools-sweden|archive-date=28 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Chile,<ref>{{cite web|title=Schools should be run in the public interest|url=http://www.govtoday.co.uk/education/38-schools/12180-schools-should-be-run-in-the-public-interest|work=Govtoday Website|access-date=23 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203073112/http://www.govtoday.co.uk/education/38-schools/12180-schools-should-be-run-in-the-public-interest|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> New Zealand (an overlap between designated special character schools and partnership schools),<ref name=NZPartnershipSchools>{{cite web|title=Partnership Schools Working Group|url=http://nzmcs.education.govt.nz/|work=New Zealand Government Website|access-date=23 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504013817/http://nzmcs.education.govt.nz/|archive-date=4 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Canada,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Charter Schools|url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/charter-schools|encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia|access-date=23 April 2013|archive-date=31 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231133624/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/charter-schools|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the United States.<ref>{{cite web|title=National Charter School Resource Center|url=http://www.charterschoolcenter.org/|work=National Charter School Resource Centre website|access-date=23 April 2013|archive-date=29 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629201421/https://www.charterschoolcenter.org/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The concept has been compared to charter schools in Canada and the US.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Garner |first1=Richard |title=The Rise of American-Style Charter Schools in England |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/01/the-rise-of-englands-charter-schools/423984/ |website=The Atlantic |access-date=30 January 2020 |date=13 January 2016}}</ref>

==Requirements== Free schools are subject to the same School Admissions Code as all other state-funded schools, although they are subject to the 50% Rule whereby oversubscribed free schools with a faith designation must allocate at least half of their places without regard to faith.<ref name=AdmissionsCode>{{cite web|title=School admissions code|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-admissions-code|work=Gov.uk|publisher=UK Government|access-date=20 April 2014}}</ref><ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/increasing-the-number-of-academies-and-free-schools-to-create-a-better-and-more-diverse-school-system/supporting-pages/free-schools Increasing the number of academies and free schools to create a better and more diverse school system], Detail.</ref>

Free schools are expected to offer a broad and balanced curriculum,<ref name=HoCNote>{{cite web|last=Gillie|first=Christine|title=Free schools|url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN06058/SN06058.pdf|work=House of Commons Standard Note|publisher=Social Policy Section|access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref> are subject to the same Ofsted inspections as all other maintained schools and are expected to comply with standard performance measures.<ref name="bbc-qa" />

To set up a free school, founding groups submit applications to the Department for Education.<ref name="GovUKSettingUpFreeSchool"/> Groups include those run by parents, education charities and religious groups. Start-up grants are provided to establish the schools and ongoing funding is on an equivalent basis with other locally controlled state maintained schools.<ref name=Funding>{{cite web|title=Free Schools FAQs – funding|url=http://www.education.gov.uk/a0075658/free-schools-faqs-funding|work=Department for Education Website|access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref>

== Types of free school == The majority of free schools are similar in size and shape to other types of academy. However, the following are distinctive sub-types of free school:<ref name=AcademyTypes>{{cite web|title=Types of academy|url=http://www.ssatuk.co.uk/ssat/support/academies/about-academies/types-of-academy/|work=SSAT Website|publisher=Specialist Schools and Academies Trust|access-date=3 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503185240/http://www.ssatuk.co.uk/ssat/support/academies/about-academies/types-of-academy/|archive-date=3 May 2014}}</ref>

* Studio school – A small free school, usually with around 300 pupils, using project-based learning<ref name=GovTypesOfSchool>{{cite web|title=Types of school|url=https://www.gov.uk/types-of-school/free-schools|work=Gov.uk|publisher=Department for Education|access-date=4 May 2014}}</ref> * University Technical College – A free school for the 14–18 age group, specialising in practical, employment-focused subjects, sponsored by a university, employer or further education college.<ref name="GovTypesOfSchool"/><ref name=UTCColleges>{{cite web|title=UTC Colleges Overview|url=http://www.utcolleges.org/about/overview/|website=UTC Colleges|publisher=Baker Dearing Educational Trust|access-date=16 July 2015}}</ref> * Maths school – A selective sixth form free school for those with significant mathematical aptitude, specialising in mathematics. They are sponsored by a selective mathematics university.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How to open a maths school|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-open-a-maths-school|access-date=24 January 2022|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=How to apply to set up a maths school for 16 to 19 year olds|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-open-a-maths-school/how-to-apply-to-set-up-a-maths-school-for-16-to-19-year-olds|access-date=24 January 2022|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Downs|first=Janet|date=12 May 2018|title=The chancellor can't make maths schools add up|url=https://schoolsweek.co.uk/the-chancellor-cant-make-maths-schools-add-up/|access-date=24 January 2022|website=Schools Week |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Waves=== The Department for Education publishes and maintains the list of established free schools and those that are due to be established.<ref name=FreeSchoolList>{{cite web|title=Free schools: successful applications and open schools – 2014|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-schools-successful-applications-and-open-schools-2014|website=Gov.uk|publisher=Department for Education|access-date=3 June 2014}}</ref>

Free schools approvals are processed and announced in batches, known as 'waves'.<ref name=FreeSchoolFoIWave1and2>{{cite web|title=Name, Local Authority, Previous school name, and Faith designation of applications to open a Free School – waves 1 and 2|url=http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/foi/disclosuresaboutschools/a00221774/wave-1-2-free-school-la-school-name-faith-designation|work=Department for Education website|access-date=14 April 2013}}</ref>

'''Wave 1:''' In the autumn of 2010, Education Secretary Michael Gove announced that 16 proposals for free schools had been given a green light by the Government and were expected to open in September 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/f/written%20ministerial%20statement%20relating%20to%20new%20free%20school%20proposals.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=31 October 2010 |archive-date=4 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904183658/https://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/f/written%20ministerial%20statement%20relating%20to%20new%20free%20school%20proposals.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

This number eventually grew to 24.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harrison|first=Angela|title=Free schools: 24 set to open in September|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-14692038|access-date=13 April 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=28 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The free schools set to open in 2011|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13810941|access-date=15 April 2013|newspaper=BBC News website|date=1 September 2011}}</ref> Five of the original 16 schools were faith schools: two Jewish, one Evangelical Anglican, one Hindu and one Sikh.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11197827 |date=6 September 2010 |title=First 16 'free schools' details set out |newspaper=BBC News Online}}</ref>

'''Wave 2:''' In September 2012 the Department of Education announced 55 new free schools would open that month.<ref>{{cite web|title=Free schools: 55 to open this month|url=http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews/inthenews/a00213530/new-free-schools-open|work=Department for Education Press Release|access-date=13 April 2013}}</ref>

'''Wave 3:''' The DfE received 234 applications for the third wave of free schools,<ref name=Wave3FoIRequest>{{cite web|title=Wave 3 Free School applications – Free Schools proposing to open in 2013 and beyond|url=http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/f/article%202%20-%20free%20schools%20wave%203%20applications%20-%20information.pdf|work=DfE Website|access-date=15 April 2013|archive-date=24 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424180809/http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/f/article%202%20-%20free%20schools%20wave%203%20applications%20-%20information.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> of which 102 were approved to progress to the pre-opening stage.<ref>{{cite news|title=100 more free schools approved for England|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18819391|access-date=15 April 2013|newspaper=BBC News Website|date=13 July 2012}}</ref><ref name=Wave3PreOpeningList>{{cite web|title=Free Schools: opening in 2013 and beyond|url=http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/xls/l/list%20of%20free%20schools%20opening%20in%202013%20and%20beyond%20170113.xls|work=DfE Website|access-date=15 April 2013|archive-date=24 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424180812/http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/xls/l/list%20of%20free%20schools%20opening%20in%202013%20and%20beyond%20170113.xls|url-status=dead}}</ref> The schools were due to open in September 2013.

'''Wave 4:''' Free schools wishing to open in September 2014 submitted proposals to the DfE in January 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Free Schools in 2014: How to apply|url=https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/how%20to%20apply%20guidance%20mainstream%20free%20school%202014.pdf|work=DfE Website|publisher=Department for Education|access-date=15 April 2013}}</ref> In May 2013 it was announced that 102 schools had been approved.<ref name=2014approvals>{{cite web|title=More than 100 free schools applications approved|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-than-100-free-schools-applications-approved|work=Gov.uk|publisher=Department for Education|access-date=11 May 2014}}</ref>

'''Waves 5,6,7:''' In March 2013, the Department for Education announced the application schedule for groups wishing to open free schools in 2015 and beyond.<ref>{{cite web|title=Applications for Free Schools opening in 2015 and beyond|url=http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/freeschools/b00222064/apply-2014/apply-2015|work=DfE Website|publisher=Department for Education|access-date=15 April 2013}}</ref> The Wave 5 pre-approvals were announced in January 2014, with 11 new schools being approved.<ref name=Wave5approvals>{{cite web|title=Successful free school proposals announced|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/successful-free-school-proposals-announced|work=Gov.uk|publisher=Department for Education|access-date=24 January 2014}}</ref> Five months later another 38 were pre-approved for Wave 6,<ref name=Wave6approvals>{{cite web|title=New schools bring total number of free school places to 175,000|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-schools-bring-total-number-of-free-school-places-to-175000|website=Gov.uk|publisher=Department for Education|access-date=20 June 2014}}</ref> and in September of the same year, a further 35 schools were pre-approved for Wave 7.<ref name=Wave7approvals>{{cite web|title=35 new free schools providing more than 22,000 places announced|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/35-new-free-schools-providing-more-than-22000-places-announced|website=Gov.uk|date=29 October 2014 |access-date=10 November 2014}}</ref>

'''Wave 8:''' In January 2014, the Department for Education confirmed that there would be an eighth free school wave, with applications being accepted in the Autumn of 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Opening a free school|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/opening-a-free-school|work=Gov.uk|publisher=Department for Education|access-date=22 April 2014}}</ref> The outcome was announced in March 2015, when it was confirmed that 49 applications had been pre-approved.<ref name=Wave8approvals>{{cite web|title=Prime Minister announces landmark wave of free schools|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-announces-landmark-wave-of-free-schools|website=Gov.uk|publisher=Department for Education|access-date=9 March 2015}}</ref>

'''Wave 9:''' In July 2014, a further funding round was announced for the period immediately following the 2015 General Election, with proposals being invited for submission from 8 May 2015.<ref name=Wave9announcement>{{cite news|last1=Ross|first1=Tim|title=Michael Gove pledges more free schools if Conservatives win election|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10948696/Michael-Gove-pledges-more-free-schools-if-Conservatives-win-election.html|access-date=19 July 2014|work=The Telegraph|date=6 July 2014}}</ref> The Conservative Party manifesto for that election included a proposal for at least 500 further free schools.<ref name=YouGov>{{cite web |url=http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/9362 |title=Three weeks to go |last1=Wells |first1=Anthony |date=17 April 2015 |website=ukpollingreport.co.uk |publisher=UK Polling Report |access-date=23 April 2015 |archive-date=28 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128075154/http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/9362 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 2 September 2015, it was announced that 18 applications had been successful in reaching Wave 9's pre-approval stage.<ref name=wave9approvals>{{cite news|last1=Coughlan|first1=Sean|title=Cameron launches wave of free schools|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-34116085|access-date=3 September 2015|publisher=BBC|date=2 September 2015}}</ref>

'''Wave 10 and beyond:''' In July 2015, the recently elected Conservative Government invited a tenth wave of free school applications to be submitted in October the same year. They also said that there would be further waves with closing dates in March and September each year for the rest of the Parliament.<ref name=Wave10guidance>{{cite web|title=Free school applications: updated guidance|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/updated-guidance-for-free-school-applications|website=Gov.uk|publisher=Department for Education|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref> The Parliament had been expected to end in May 2020, but in the event it was dissolved on 3 May 2017.

Between 2010 and 2015 more than 400 free schools were approved for opening in England by the Coalition Government, representing more than 230,000 school places across the country,<ref name="Wave8approvals"/> and numbers have continued to grow since that time.<ref name="OpenAndPipelineFreeSchools">{{cite web|title=Free schools: open schools and successful applications|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-schools-open-schools-and-successful-applications|website=Gov.uk|publisher=Department for Education|access-date=5 March 2018}}</ref> {{As of|2024|06}}, more than 650 had opened, and a number were seeking sites in order to open.<ref name=Guardian24>{{cite news |first=Anna |last=Fazackerley |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/article/2024/jun/22/flagship-free-school-that-cost-35m-closes-due-to-lack-of-pupils |title=Flagship free school that cost £35m closes due to lack of pupils |newspaper=The Guardian |date=22 June 2024 }}</ref>

=== Closures === By 2018, 66 free schools had totally or partially closed, or failed to open entirely, at an estimated cost of almost £150 million in startup costs and capital funding. Nineteen had fully closed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/apr/25/free-schools-policy-under-fire-as-yet-another-closure-announced-plymouth|title=Free schools policy under fire as yet another closure announced|last=Weale|first=Sally|date=25 April 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=21 May 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

By 2025, 67 free schools had closed or failed to open, built with £325 million of capital funding provided by central government.<ref name=guardian-20251210>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/dec/10/conservative-governments-free-schools-failed |title=Tory governments spent £325m on free schools that failed or disappeared |last=Adams |first=Richard |newspaper=The Guardian |date=10 December 2025 |access-date=13 December 2025}}</ref>

===Qualification of teachers=== Unlike local authority maintained schools in England, but in common with other types of academy and with independent schools, free schools are allowed to employ teachers without Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). The Coalition government said this freedom enables "innovation, diversity and flexibility"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101115/debtext/101115-0001.htm|title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 15 Nov 2010 (pt 0001)|first=Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons|last=Westminster}}</ref> and "the dynamism that characterises the best independent schools".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm130909/debtext/130909-0001.htm#13090914000020|title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 09 Sep 2013 (pt 0001)|first=Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons|last=Westminster}}</ref> The Labour Party have expressed their opposition to this and said that if elected they would require teachers in academies and free schools be "properly qualified".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/labour-pledge-to-stop-state-schools-employing-unqualified-teachers-9060058.html|title=Labour pledge to stop state schools employing unqualified teachers|first=Richard|last=Garner|work=The Independent|date=15 January 2014|access-date=6 September 2014}}</ref>

==Discussion== When the free school policy was first announced, some commentators offered advice to potential proposers,<ref name="telegraph1">{{cite news|last=Tuck |first=Vicky |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/7636404/Want-to-open-a-Tory-free-school-Take-a-leaf-out-of-the-Victorians-book.html |title=Want to open a Tory 'free school'? Take a leaf out of the Victorians' book |work=The Telegraph|date=26 April 2010 |access-date=26 May 2010 | location=London}}</ref> while others expressed scepticism that the concept could be made to work at all.<ref>[http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/63793,news-comment,news-politics,tory-free-schools-who-going-to-pay-for-them-education Tory free schools: who's going to pay for them?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529164110/http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/63793,news-comment,news-politics,tory-free-schools-who-going-to-pay-for-them-education |date=29 May 2010 }}, ''The First Post'', 26 May 2010</ref> Supporters of free schools, such as the Conservative Party, said that they would "create more local competition and drive-up standards".<ref name="telegraph2">{{cite news|last=Paton |first=Graeme |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/7505255/Teachers-attack-Tory-free-school-plans.html |title=Teachers attack Tory 'free school' plans |work=The Telegraph|date=23 March 2010 |access-date=26 May 2010 | location=London}}</ref> They also felt they would allow parents to have more choice in the type of education their child receives, much like parents who send their children to independent schools do.<ref>{{cite web|last=Thorpe-Apps|first=Andrew|title=Why Free Schools are the Future|url=http://thebackbencher.co.uk/why-free-schools-are-the-future/|work=The Backbencher website|date=19 November 2012|access-date=14 April 2013}}</ref> However, critics argued that the policy would benefit only middle-class parents with the time to set up free schools and that they would divert money away from existing schools.<ref name="bbc-qa"/> Supporters of free schools said that they would benefit children from all backgrounds.<ref>{{cite news|last=Young|first=Toby|title=Left unleashes furious assault on free schools in attempt to force another U-turn|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tobyyoung/100092216/left-unleashes-furious-assault-on-free-schools-in-attempt-to-force-another-u-turn/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616102302/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tobyyoung/100092216/left-unleashes-furious-assault-on-free-schools-in-attempt-to-force-another-u-turn/|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 June 2011|access-date=13 April 2013|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=15 June 2011}}</ref> Some people were concerned that free schools are not obliged to cap their headteachers' pay.<ref name="Indep">{{cite news |last1=Garner |first1=Richard |title=Headteachers' salaries are soaring in academies and free schools, say teachers |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/headteachers-salaries-are-soaring-in-academies-and-free-schools-say-teachers-10144179.html |access-date=27 August 2020 |work=The Independent |date=30 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="TES">{{cite news |last1=Hallahan |first1=Grainne |title=Leadership and headteacher pay scales |url=https://www.tes.com/jobs/careers-advice/pay-and-conditions/leadership-and-headteacher-pay-scales |access-date=27 August 2020 |work=The Times Educational Supplement |date=29 July 2019}}</ref>

A review of available research on the Swedish model that partially inspired the policy was published in a paper by Rebecca Allen.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10376457 | date=22 June 2010 |title=Doubts cast over Swedish-style free schools |newspaper=BBC News Online}}</ref> It concluded, "The econometric evidence on the effect of the reforms suggests that, so far, Swedish pupils do not appear to be harmed by the competition from private schools, but the new schools have not yet transformed educational attainment in Sweden."<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.bris.ac.uk/cmpo/publications/bulletin/summer10/swedishfreeschools.pdf |title=Replicating Swedish 'free school' reforms in England |journal=Research in Public Policy |date=Summer 2010 |first=Rebecca |last=Allen |archive-date=3 December 2012 |access-date=30 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203121113/http://www.bris.ac.uk/cmpo/publications/bulletin/summer10/swedishfreeschools.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Peter Wilby, writing in ''The Guardian'', predicted that free schools would be run by private companies rather than parents, teachers or voluntary groups.<ref>{{cite news|first=Peter |last=Wilby |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2010/may/25/free-schools-private-companies |title=Private companies will run 'free schools' |work=The Guardian|date= 25 May 2010|access-date=26 May 2010 | location=London}}</ref> The New Schools Network was subsequently set up to help groups develop the skills needed to set up free schools.<ref>{{cite web|title=Set up a School|url=http://newschoolsnetwork.org/set-up-school|work=New Schools Network website|access-date=14 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501110906/http://newschoolsnetwork.org/set-up-school|archive-date=1 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Harrison|first=Angela|title=Teachers are half of free school inquiries|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10354396|access-date=14 April 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=18 June 2010}}</ref> Paul Carter, a Conservative councillor, pointed out that under the funding arrangements in place at the time, "the more academies and Free Schools you operate, under the current academy funding arrangements, the less [money] maintained schools would get."<ref>{{cite news|first=Francis |last=Gilbert |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/apr/27/tory-free-schools-inequality |title=Tory free schools will spread inequality |department=Comment is free|work=The Guardian|date=27 April 2010 |access-date=26 May 2010 | location=London}}</ref> Subsequently, the Department for Education changed the funding arrangements for all maintained schools so that "schools in similar circumstances and with similar intakes receive similar levels of funding", whatever type of school they are.<ref name=SchoolFundingReform>{{cite web|title=School funding reform: Arrangements for 2013 – 14|url=https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/school%20funding%20reform%20-%20final%202013-14%20arrangements.pdf|work=Department for Education website|access-date=14 April 2013}}</ref>

A warning by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) that the policy would "fuel social segregation and undermine local democracy" was reported in ''The Daily Telegraph''.<ref name="telegraph2"/> The NUT also said that free schools were neither wanted nor needed, based on a survey of a thousand parents.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12099245 |title=Free schools 'not wanted' say teachers |date=3 January 2011 |newspaper=BBC News Online |first=Angela |last=Harrison}}</ref> The Education Secretary accused free school opponents of subjecting supporters to personal attacks and even death threats.<ref>{{cite news| last =Paton| first =Graeme| title =Michael Gove: free school applicants 'subjected to death threats'| newspaper =The Telegraph| date =19 February 2013| url =https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/9881384/Michael-Gove-free-school-applicants-subjected-to-death-threats.html| access-date =19 February 2013 }}</ref> The Department for Education said that free schools were popular with parents. Figures released in 2013 showed that 90% of free schools were over-subscribed with an average of three pupils competing for each place.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/9985028/Nine-in-10-of-the-Coalitions-free-schools-oversubscribed.html |title=Nine-in-10 of the Coalition's free schools 'oversubscribed' |journal=The Telegraph |first=Graeme |last=Paton|date=10 April 2013 }}</ref> Critics pointed out that more than half of free schools opening in 2012 opened with 60% or less of the student numbers predicted by the impact assessment documents of each institution, leaving more than 10% spare places.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/dec/13/half-free-schools-spare-places-figures |title=More than half of new free schools opened with spare places, figures show |journal=The Guardian |first=Warwick |last=Mansell|date=13 December 2013 }}</ref>

Analysis by the British Humanist Association in 2013 found that the majority of free school applications were from religious groups.<ref>{{cite web|title=Majority of identifiable Free School proposals from 2011–13 were religious|url=http://humanism.org.uk/2013/03/22/majority-of-identifiable-free-school-proposals-from-2011-13-were-religious/|work=British Humanist Association website|access-date=14 April 2013}}</ref> The Catholic Education Service said that it would not open free schools because their admissions rules would only let them reserve 50% of places for children from Catholic families, unlike Voluntary Aided schools which can select up to 100% of places using faith criteria.<ref name=freeButFettered>{{cite news|last=Sutcliffe|first=Jeremy|title=Free but fettered|url=http://www.thetablet.co.uk/features/2/677/free-but-fettered|access-date=22 April 2014|newspaper=The Tablet|date=26 October 2013}}</ref> Education Secretary Michael Gove said in 2011 he had ruled out religious fundamentalist groups being able to set up free schools.<ref name=TESGoveCreationistFreeSchools>{{cite news|last=Marley|first=David|title=Gove banishes creationist groups from free schools|url=http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6086004|access-date=23 April 2013|newspaper=Times Educational Supplement|date=27 May 2011}}</ref>

In April 2014, following publication of a leaked document 'Future Academy System' prepared for schools minister Lord Nash, critics claimed that failing free schools were being given special fast-track attention by the government to limit potential embarrassment to Michael Gove, the Education Secretary at the time. The leaked document stated that the "political ramifications of any more free schools being judged inadequate are very high and speedy intervention is essential."<ref name="Michael Gove's bid to limit fallout from failing free schools">{{cite news|title=Michael Gove's bid to limit fallout from failing free schools – revealed|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/apr/06/michael-gove-failing-free-schools|access-date=6 April 2014|newspaper=The Observer|date=5 April 2014|first1=Daniel |last1=Boffey|first2=Warwick |last2=Mansell}}</ref>

The centre-right think tank Policy Exchange said in 2015 that free schools affected the performance of the pupils in surrounding schools. Their assessment was that the results in low-performing schools located in the vicinity of a free school out-performed similar schools that do not have a free school nearby, and also that free schools were eight times more likely to be in England's most deprived areas than the least deprived.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/secondaryeducation/11459227/Why-500-new-free-schools-are-good-news-for-England.html |title=Why 500 new free schools are good news for England|first=Toby|last=Young|date=9 March 2015 |website=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref>

Polling in April 2015 put public support for Conservative proposals to increase the number of free schools by at least 500 at 26%.<ref name=YouGov/> The 2015 Labour Party election manifesto proposed banning the creation of free schools in areas where there was a surplus of places.<ref>{{cite news |last=Holehouse |first=Matthew |date=13 April 2015 |title=Labour manifesto 2015: the key policies and what they mean for you |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/11532277/Labour-manifesto-2015-general-election-manifesto-and-policies.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413122712/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/11532277/Labour-manifesto-2015-general-election-manifesto-and-policies.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 April 2015 |newspaper=The Telegraph |access-date=23 April 2015 }}</ref>

The free school concept has been described as a government obsession which should be abandoned as a failed experiment; the joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU) said in 2018: "The government should hang its head in shame at this monumental waste of taxpayers' money at a time when schools are severely underfunded".<ref name=failed>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/apr/25/free-schools-policy-under-fire-as-yet-another-closure-announced-plymouth |title=Free schools policy under fire as yet another closure announced |newspaper=The Guardian |date=25 April 2018 |first= Sally |last=Weale |access-date= 25 April 2018}}</ref>

The schools have proven to be unexpectedly expensive, with the government being taken to task for failure to do due diligence on sites and to publish an accounting of costs.<ref name=Guardian24/>

==References== {{notelist}} {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.education.gov.uk/freeschools Free Schools] at the website of the Department for Education *[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7103636.stm Swedish model of 'free schools'], BBC News, 20 November 2007

{{DEFAULTSORT:Free School (England)}} 01 Category:Education in England Category:School types Category:State schools in the United Kingdom Category:Education policy in the United Kingdom Category:Public education in the United Kingdom Category:United Kingdom educational programmes