Free schools: how to apply
Guidance for proposers looking to set up new mainstream free schools. This includes 16 to 19 free schools.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp application round closed on Wednesday 30 November 2022.
A list of approved free schools from this application round is available.
Updates to this page
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Added a link to the list of approved free schools.
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Removed the expression of interest form and guidance. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp expression of interest process closed on 16 September 2022.
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Added the application guidance: 'How to apply to set up a mainstream free school'.
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Updated the guidance for wave 15. This includes adding guidance on how to register your interest to set up a mainstream free school, a link to the expression of interest form and maps and underlying data showing the estimated primary and secondary places needed.
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Updated to show that pre-registration closed at midday on 18 October 2019.
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Added link to 'Apply to open a special or alternative provision free school'.
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Guidance updated, maps updated, sample application forms added.
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Updated document 'How to apply to set up a mainstream free school' and deadline for submitting wave 14 applications.
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Updated wave 14 maps for primary and secondary places.
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Updated application guidance and associated documents for the latest wave (14) of the free schools programme.
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Registration for creating a new free school as part of wave 13 closed.
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Pre-application deadline updated from 6 September 2018 to 1 October 2018.
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Updated the deadline text and added a new version of 'How to apply to set up a mainstream free school: guidance'. Added new version of ' Application form notes (for information only)'.
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Updated application guidance and associated documents for the latest wave (13) of the free schools programme.
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Updated guide with information for wave 12.
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First published.