Guidance and example forms for proposers looking to set up new mainstream free schools.

Documents

How to apply to set up a mainstream free school

Ref: DFE-00181-2019PDF, 1.04MB, 71 pages

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Wave 14 map: estimated primary places needed

PDF, 11.1MB, 1 page

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Wave 14 map: estimated secondary places needed

PDF, 12.2MB, 1 page

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Example mainstream application form

PDF, 217KB, 35 pages

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Example mainstream application template

PDF, 78.6KB, 12 pages

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Details

The Department for Education is looking to open new mainstream free schools in areas that currently have the lowest standards and where there is also a need for additional school places.

The ‘how to apply’ guidance explains the criteria that applications received in wave 14 will be assessed against.

Before you apply you must register your interest online by midday on 18 October 2019. You will be sent copies of the application forms to complete when you have registered your interest.

The sample application forms on this page show the information that you will need to provide in your application.

The deadline for submitting an application in wave 14 has been extended to midday on 11 November 2019.

More information on opening a free school is available.

Contact the New Schools Network if you need more advice on how to set up a free school.

Published 22 December 2015
Last updated 10 September 2019 + show all updates

  1. Guidance updated, maps updated, sample application forms added.
  2. Updated document ‘How to apply to set up a mainstream free school’ and deadline for submitting wave 14 applications.
  3. Updated wave 14 maps for primary and secondary places.
  4. Updated application guidance and associated documents for the latest wave (14) of the free schools programme.
  5. Registration for creating a new free school as part of wave 13 closed.
  6. Pre-application deadline updated from 6 September 2018 to 1 October 2018.
  7. Updated the deadline text and added a new version of ‘How to apply to set up a mainstream free school: guidance’. Added new version of ‘ Application form notes (for information only)’.
  8. Updated application guidance and associated documents for the latest wave (13) of the free schools programme.
  9. Updated guide with information for wave 12.
  10. First published.