Forty-four planned mainstream free schools are now in doubt after the government launched a review into whether they offer value for money – signalling the end of the Conservative party’s original free school model.
Department for Education officials have been asked to look at the 44 centrally delivered mainstream free schools in the pipeline.
This will only be free school projects approved by central government, not those delivering through competitions run by councils – which are usual determined by a local need.
They will speak to trusts and councils about whether the schools should now open, including if they meet a need for places in the local area.
However the government would not immediately provide a list of affected projects.
Schools Week revealed last year that around three in five planned free schools were slated to open in areas with rising numbers of surplus pupil places.
Free schools under threat will be written to. Phillipson said “more detail on schools in scope of the review will be provided in due course”.
Special free schools’ ‘value for money’ checks
She added work to deliver special and AP free schools “is continuing”. But they added: “As with all government investment, special and alternative provision free school projects will be subject to value for money consideration through their development, in line with the government’s vision for the special educational needs system.”
Schools Week revealed last week concerns from councils after planned special free schools had been called in for review.
Phillipson said: “Under the last administration, substantial funds were allocated to the free schools programme, often resulting in surpluses in school capacity.”
The National Audit Office found in 2017 that of the 113,500 new places in mainstream free schools due by 2021, an estimated 57,500 amounted to spare capacity in the new schools’ local area, Phillipson said.
‘Poor value for money’
“Not only is this poor value for money, the oversupply of places can be detrimental to the other, more established schools in that area – who might lose pupils, as well as teachers, to their new competitor.
“Meanwhile, in the fourteen years since the cancellation of the Building Schools for the Future programme, some of this funding could have been put to better use improving the deteriorating condition of our existing schools and colleges.
“We do not underestimate the scale of the challenge that we have inherited and this will not be a quick fix.”
Signalling the end of the original free school programme set up by the Conservatives – based on delivering innovative schools, as opposed to just meeting demand for places – Phillipson said her government will “continue to open new schools where they are needed”.
‘We value academy trusts’
She also signalled support for the academy sector, adding: “We also value the role of academy trusts within the school system. Strong trusts use their collaboration and leadership to deliver exceptional results for children and young people, including those in disadvantaged areas.
“Academy trusts will continue to have a crucial role in our mission to break down the barriers to opportunity.”
She said the government was setting out its review to ensure they “work transparently and openly with trusts and local authorities as we undertake this important work”.
