First Steps

The application process can seem daunting and it can be difficult to know where to start.

Over the past three years, helping hundreds of groups to submit successful applications, we have found that the 3 key “First Steps” in the application process are:

  1. Defining your vision,
  2. Building your team, and
  3. Gathering evidence of demand.

You can download guidance on your vision and your team on this page and you can read about evidence of demand here.

Once you have been through this guidance and are ready to complete your application you can read our detailed guides here.

Do remember you can get further advice by seeing one of our advisers at one of our surgeries, and you can apply for further support through our Development Programme. If you have a specific question you can email us on info@newschoolsnetwork.org.

Vision

The vision is the backbone of your application and underpins every decision you make, so it is vital that yours is clear.

Team

Fundamentally the quality of the school is down to the quality of the people involved. You need a strong team with a shared vision to develop your application and deliver the school.

Evidence of demand

Gathering evidence of demand is one of the most important, and time consuming, elements of opening the school.