Guidance

Free schools: how to apply

Guidance for proposers looking to set up new mainstream free schools. This includes 16 to 19 free schools.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 22 December 2015
• Last updated: 22 August 2023
  Show all updates

  1. 22 August 2023

     Added a link to the list of approved free schools.

  2. 20 September 2022

     Removed the expression of interest form and guidance. The expression of interest process closed on 16 September 2022.

  3. 20 July 2022

     Added the application guidance: 'How to apply to set up a mainstream free school'.

  4. 10 June 2022

     Updated the guidance for wave 15. This includes adding guidance on how to register your interest to set up a mainstream free school, a link to the expression of interest form and maps and underlying data showing the estimated primary and secondary places needed.

  5. 18 October 2019

     Updated to show that pre-registration closed at midday on 18 October 2019.

  6. 10 September 2019

     Added link to 'Apply to open a special or alternative provision free school'.

  7. 10 September 2019

     Guidance updated, maps updated, sample application forms added.

  8. 22 July 2019

     Updated document 'How to apply to set up a mainstream free school' and deadline for submitting wave 14 applications.

  9. 4 April 2019

     Updated wave 14 maps for primary and secondary places.

  10. 31 January 2019

      Updated application guidance and associated documents for the latest wave (14) of the free schools programme.

  11. 1 October 2018

      Registration for creating a new free school as part of wave 13 closed.

  12. 18 July 2018

      Pre-application deadline updated from 6 September 2018 to 1 October 2018.

  13. 18 June 2018

      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)'.

  14. 11 May 2018

      Updated application guidance and associated documents for the latest wave (13) of the free schools programme.

  15. 29 July 2016

      Updated guide with information for wave 12.

  16. 22 December 2015

      First published.

This publication was withdrawn on 21 September 2026

This wave has now closed. There are currently no live free school application rounds. More information on opening new schools is available.

Applies to England

Documents

[WITHDRAWN] How to apply to set up a mainstream free school

HTML

[WITHDRAWN] Wave 15 map: estimated primary places needed

PDF, 14.3 MB, 1 page

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[WITHDRAWN] Wave 15 map: estimated secondary places needed

PDF, 14.8 MB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternative.formats@education.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

[WITHDRAWN] Underlying data for wave 15 primary map

CSV, 373 KB

View online

[WITHDRAWN] Underling data for wave 15 secondary map

CSV, 158 KB

View online

Details

The application round closed on Wednesday 30 November 2022.

A list of approved free schools from this application round is available.