Our monthly Free Schools Round-Up will provide you with education news from the last month, featuring key updates on the individual free school waves and free school and academy news highlights.
Key Updates on Waves
At Create: Schools we are able to offer free support with your application, if you require a review of your bid or have any further queries, please contact us via our contact form here.
AP Wave
The final deadline for AP partnerships to submit their applications passed on the 17th of February. Applications will now be assessed, with successful submissions to be announced early autumn this year.
Wave 15
The deadline has passed for mainstream application submissions, it is anticipated that the interview stage of assessment will begin soon; therefore, it may be useful to begin interview preparation as we approach this stage of the mainstream application process. Use our latest blog as guidance or get in touch to find out more.
Special Wave
Last October, the application window for the first stage of the special wave closed. It is expected that successful local authorities will be announced soon, with proposer groups then able to submit their applications in the second stage. The published list of all local authority applicants can be found here.
Free Schools in the News: This Month's Top Stories
The National Education Union (NEU) announced that if substantive progress would be made through government discussion, they would be willing to pause strikes. The aim of the strikes was to further discussions regarding salary and funding in the education sector.
Sadiq Khan has announced a £130m scheme to provide all primary school children in London with a free school meal for a year. This follows concerns as parents skip meals to ensure their children can eat during the current cost of living crisis.
The third year of the Turing Scheme is now accepting applications, with placements available worldwide from September 2023. The scheme aims to widen opportunities for young people, in particular disadvantaged and underrepresented students, on a global scale.
Family Hubs are to be established in 75 areas across the UK, benefitting from £300m of funding until 2025. The hubs are designed with the function of supporting families and young children overcome difficulties at the earliest stage possible.
The government has recommended a 3.5% pay increase for millions of public sector workers. The recommendations would include judges, police officers, teachers, nurses, doctors and dentists across England.
The winners of the MAT Finance Awards 2022 were announced this February. These awards are an opportunity to showcase outstanding work quality of school finance professionals.
An apprenticeship route into teaching has been confirmed by the government, providing opportunities for non-graduates to access careers in teaching. Through this pathway, apprentices will obtain a degree and QTS. This pressure to boost recruitment in the sector.
Jason Ardy is due to begin as a professor at the University of Cambridge in March – becoming the youngest black professor at the university. Unable to read or write until the age of 18, Ardy is now a renowned sociologist scholar, with hopes to inspire others from underrepresented backgrounds to progress to higher education.