Two thirds of the country will benefit from new schools
The New Schools Network (NSN) today welcomed the Government announcement that 102 new Free Schools have been approved to open from 2013. This brings the total number of Free Schools up to 191 by 2013, compared with just 17 academies in the first three years of the programme.
Together with the 89 Free Schools that have already opened, or been approved to open from this September, nearly two thirds of all local authorities will now have at least one Free School in their area.
Rachel Wolf, Director of the New Schools Network said:
"We are delighted with the announcement which will see tens of thousands of additional spaces in new primary, secondary and SEN or Alternative PRovision across the country. Since 2010, the Government has called for a superb new school in every community. Today's announcement sees the Free Schools Movement well on its way to making that vision a reality, with nearly two thirds of local authorities now having at least one Free School on their patch.
"We are excited that such a large proportion of the schools approved come from within the education sector - whether from existing outstanding schools or groups of teachers. With well over half of the groups approved today being school led, the Profession is voting with its feet. Teachers across the country are recognising that Free Schools give them the opportunity to set up and run schools as they see fit, without being encombered by unnecessary process and bureaucratic controls."
Of the 102 schools approved today:
41 are primary schools
34 are secondary schools
10 are all-through schools
12 are Alternative Provision schools
5 are Special schools.
Geographically, the spread is as follows:
10 in Eastern England
4 in the East Midlands
34 in London
3 in North East England
12 in North West England
16 in South East England
9 in South West England
7 in the West Midlands
7 in Yorkshire and the Humber
New Schools Network would like to congratulate all successful applicants.