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.
Wave 15
July saw the launch of the Department for Education’s (DfE) How to Apply Guide for proposers looking to set up a new mainstream free school, meaning that those who have already completed an Expression of Interest are able to apply now. Proposers now have until 5pm on 16th September to complete an Expression of Interest form and until 30th November to complete a full application. Our previous blog found here explains the key changes in this mainstream wave.
Special Wave
Local authority pre-registration to open special free schools closed on 11th July. Local authorities that have pre-registered now have until 21st October to submit their applications. Proposer groups will be able to apply to open schools in approved local authorities from early next year.
Alternative Provision Wave
The pre-registration window to apply for an Alternative Provision free school will open shortly after the end of the summer holidays, running from 12th September to 17th October 2022. Proposers should continue discussion with potential partners and local authorities over the next month to ensure they are ready for pre-registration.
Free Schools in the News: This Month's Top Stories
Over a month since the resignation of Boris Johnson as PM, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak are the final two candidates remaining to replace him. With both contestants having served as ministers in the Department for Education, The Guardian discusses their respective policies.
Research conducted by The Sutton Trust shows the impact of COVID on this year’s exams, 72% of teachers think that the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their classmates will widen at their school.
NASUWT Teachers’ Union has said the proposed 5% pay raise for more experienced teachers is too low, as it is fails to meet the rise in UK inflation.
Despite government drive for provisions to join larger multi-academy trusts, new DfE figures show only 1.8% of academies moved to a different trust, the lowest year for academy transfer in six years.
School budgets could face a pay cut due to rocketing inflation according to a new analysis based on the gap between funding and inflation.
Duke of Edinburgh award saw an 800% increase in young women taking up skateboarding for the physical section of the programme.
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