Guidance

Apply to open a special free school

Sets out the process to apply to set up a new special free school.

From:
Department for Education
Published
13 November 2013
Last updated
10 June 2022 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

How to apply to set up a special free school (for local authorities)

HTML

How to apply to open a special free school in Bury (for proposer groups)

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Details

Local authorities wishing to apply for a new special free school in their area, should:

  • read the guidance on how to apply to set up a special free school (for local authorities)
  • complete the mandatory pre-registration form by 5pm on Monday, 11 July 2022

We are also seeking applications to run the new pre-approved special free school in Bury. Proposer groups must:

We will only email application forms and specification templates to local authorities and proposer groups who complete the pre-registration.

Published 13 November 2013
Last updated 10 June 2022 + show all updates

  1. Added guidance and a link to a pre-registration for local authorities to apply for a new special free school in their area. We have also added guidance for proposer groups applying to run the new pre-approved special free school in Bury.

  2. Added link to the competition for special free schools in Bromley and amended the deadline for applications to the Bromley competition to 13 November 2020.

  3. Added application guidance and forms to apply to open special free schools in Bromley and Shropshire.

  4. Applications have now closed.

  5. Added links to each local authority's specification.

  6. Added guidance and application forms for proposer groups applying to open and run a special or alternative provision free school.

  7. Removed the reference to the number of bids we will approve, following the announcement yesterday that we will no longer cap the number of bids.

  8. Added 'Specification for special or alternative provision free school bids' and 'Form for special or alternative provision free school bids'.

  9. Updated the guidance and criteria document and removed old forms and guidance.

  10. Added application forms and assessment criteria for wave 12.

  11. Updated assessment criteria and application forms.

  12. Updated documents with wave 10 information.

  13. Documents updated in preparation for Wave 9 applications.

  14. Updated 'Special free school application form: sections C to F'.

  15. Added updated 'Special free school application form: sections C to F'.

  16. Updated downloads for sections A,B,H and C F

  17. Updated 'Special free school application: criteria for assessment' document.

  18. Added financial template to help groups opening a special free school plan their budget.

  19. Updated with wave 8 information.

  20. Updated documents for wave 7 application.

  21. First published.