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Further 281 applications to open free schools Further 281 applications to open free schools
(about 17 hours later)
There have been 281 bids to open free schools in England in the second round of applications, the Department for Education has said.There have been 281 bids to open free schools in England in the second round of applications, the Department for Education has said.
It follows 323 applications made in the first round, of which 32 are now being moved forward by officials. It follows 323 applications made in the first round, of which 10-20 are expected to open in September.
Between 10 and 20 free schools are expected to open in September. The government says free schools, set up by parents, teachers and other groups, will increase provision and drive up standards.
Free schools are schools which are set up by groups of parents, teachers, charities, businesses, universities, trusts, religious and voluntary bodies. But critics say they draw resources away from wider state education.
They are funded directly by central government, and are free from the control of local authorities. Free schools are founded as academy schools, funded directly by central government, and outside the control of local authorities.
The government hopes that about 100 will open next year. Proposers include community groups, charities, businesses, universities, trusts and religious and voluntary bodies.
'Ending rationing' The second round of applications includes proposals for 37 university technical colleges (UTCs).
Education Secretary Michael Gove said: "Our critics said it was impossible to open a school in little more than a year. Several will open this September. These are secondary schools sponsored by universities and local employers, which have a focus on developing vocational and technical skills alongside traditional academic disciplines.
"They told us that schools wouldn't want to become academies. They are converting at a rate of two every school day.
"The rationing of good schools must end. Our reforms are about creating a generation of world-class schools, free from meddling and prescription, that provide more children with the type of education previously reserved for the rich."
The second round of applications to set up free schools were received by the Department for Education between 17 March and 15 June.The second round of applications to set up free schools were received by the Department for Education between 17 March and 15 June.
Of the 281 bids, 227 were for mainstream schools, 20 for schools for children with special educational needs, and 34 for alternative provision schools, such as pupil referral units.Of the 281 bids, 227 were for mainstream schools, 20 for schools for children with special educational needs, and 34 for alternative provision schools, such as pupil referral units.
Of the 227 mainstream applications, 56% were from local groups, with 18% from independent schools wishing to move into the state sector, and 5% from existing academy schools. Of the 227 mainstream applications, 56% were from local groups, with 18% from independent schools wishing to move into the state sector, and 5% from groups that already run existing academy schools.
The proportion of faith school applications dropped from 49% last yaer to 29% this year.
The successful bidders will be announced in September.The successful bidders will be announced in September.
Mr Gove is due to give a speech on the free schools programme on Monday, in which he will say there have been some "extremely promising proposals". 'Ending rationing'
The Department for Education also says that the number of new applications is in line with expectations. Education Secretary Michael Gove is to outline progress made on his flagship free-schools programme in a speech at the Policy Exchange on Monday.
He will say there have been some "extremely promising proposals".
Ahead of the speech, he said: "Our critics said it was impossible to open a school in little more than a year. Several will open this September.
"The rationing of good schools must end. Our reforms are about creating a generation of world-class schools, free from meddling and prescription, that provide more children with the type of education previously reserved for the rich."
The Department for Education says that the number of new applications is in line with expectations.
The first application window ran from 18 June 2010 to 11 February of this year.The first application window ran from 18 June 2010 to 11 February of this year.
Shadow education secretary, Labour's Andy Burnham said Mr Gove was "pouring time, energy and resources into a free schools programme which will be irrelevant for most parents, and is diverting funding out of mainstream schools into wealthier areas".
"Michael Gove tells us that setting up new schools in this way - including removing requirements to employ qualified teachers - will improve standards, but similar reforms in Sweden led to falling standards and rising social segregation," he added.