Published 30 September 2014
Last updated
228 September
20222023
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8 September 2023
Updated the 'Free schools: pre-opening guide' and 'Annexes A to F: checklists and briefs' to reflect the new academic year, updates to school admissions and changes to grant assurance processes for the project development grant.
22 September 2022
The 'Free schools: pre-opening guide' and 'Annexes A to F: checklists and briefs' have been updated.
4 August 2022
Removed references to DfE coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance.
18 May 2021
Updated 'Free school pre-opening guide' and 'Annexes A to F: checklists and briefs'.
15 September 2020
Converted PDF file to HTML and added Annexes A to F as a separate document. The guide contains updates to some processes following the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
14 June 2019
Updated guidance for June 2019.
11 May 2018
Updated guidance as of May 2018.
21 April 2017
Updated guidance to reflect our current policies on funding, governance, admissions and other important areas that projects must comply with during pre-opening.
13 October 2016
Updated guide for groups who got approval in September 2016 to open a free school (wave 11).
5 February 2016
Updated document with changes to information on safeguarding, inclusivity and religious character, funding and financial governance.
27 August 2015
Document updated with changes to the admissions, procurement and governance sections.
19 March 2015
Updated document. Revised sections include: governance, funding, site and buildings, admissions and religious character. Added information on inclusivity, school food, and proposer groups.
30 September 2014
First published.