Apply to open a special free school
Sets out the process to apply to set up a new special free school.
Applies to England
Documents
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 application and specification forms which were sent via email upon completion of the mandatory pre-registration
form(which closed on 11 July) - submit the completed application and specification forms via email to fs.applications@education.gov.uk by
5pmmidday onMonday,Friday1121JulyOctober 2022
We are also seeking applications to run the new pre-approved special free school in Bury. Proposer groups must:
- read the guidance on how to apply to set up a special free school in Bury, in response to the local authority’s specification
- complete the application forms which were sent via email
fs.applications@education.gov.ukuponbeforecompletionMonday,of the mandatory pre-registration (which closed on 11JulyJuly) - submit
2022the completed application forms via email toregisterfs.applications@education.gov.uktheirbyinterestmidday on Friday 21 October 2022
WeIf willyou onlydid emailnot applicationcomplete formsthe andpre-registration, specificationwhich templatesclosed on 11 July 2022, you will be unable to localsubmit authoritiesan andapplication proposerfor groupsa whonew completespecial thefree pre-registration.school in this wave.
Last updated
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Removed the link to the pre-registration form as it closed on 11 July and added the deadline for submitting completed applications. Updated the key dates section in 'How to apply to set up a special free school (for local authorities)' to reflect the extended deadlines for stage 2.
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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.
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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.
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Added application guidance and forms to apply to open special free schools in Bromley and Shropshire.
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Applications have now closed.
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Added links to each local authority's specification.
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Added guidance and application forms for proposer groups applying to open and run a special or alternative provision free school.
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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.
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Added 'Specification for special or alternative provision free school bids' and 'Form for special or alternative provision free school bids'.
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Updated the guidance and criteria document and removed old forms and guidance.
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Added application forms and assessment criteria for wave 12.
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Updated assessment criteria and application forms.
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Updated documents with wave 10 information.
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Documents updated in preparation for Wave 9 applications.
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Updated 'Special free school application form: sections C to F'.
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Added updated 'Special free school application form: sections C to F'.
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Updated downloads for sections A,B,H and C F
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Updated 'Special free school application: criteria for assessment' document.
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Added financial template to help groups opening a special free school plan their budget.
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Updated with wave 8 information.
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Updated documents for wave 7 application.
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First published.