News and communications

Major government investment to improve school and college buildings and support more school places from 2026.

• Updated: 28 March 2023

New guidance sets out how councils can seek funding from housing development in their area and use it to create school places

• Updated: 11 April 2019

More disadvantaged children will have access to an Outstanding school place as the government launches the second round of the Selective Schools Expansion Fund.

• Updated: 11 February 2019

Schools to benefit from an extra £50million to improve facilities and create more good school places for children with special educational needs. The Government also announced a further £680million to create 40,000 new good …

• Updated: 29 May 2018

69,000 places to be created in biggest wave of new free school approvals this Parliament.

• Updated: 12 April 2017

Biggest wave of free school approvals this Parliament – helping to deliver the government’s goal of opening 500 new free schools by 2020.

• Updated: 16 September 2016

Visiting Reach Academy in Feltham, the PM announced 31 new free schools that will provide around 20,000 high-quality places for pupils.

• Updated: 12 July 2016

The Secretary of State for Education and Schools Minister David Laws announce capital funding to support the creation of new school places.

• Updated: 12 February 2015

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The Education Secretary has approved 38 new free schools, which will create 22,000 school places across England and drive up standards.

• Updated: 19 June 2014

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Education Secretary Michael Gove has issued a written ministerial statement on funding allocations.

• Updated: 18 December 2013

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

David Laws, the Minister of State for Schools, announces the outcome of applications to the Targeted Basic Need programme.

• Updated: 18 July 2013

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Around 74,000 children have missed out on a place at their first-choice secondary school, official figures reveal today.

• Updated: 22 March 2012

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

A statement on the statistics for numbers of children receiving their first choice place at secondary school, and other data.

• Updated: 22 March 2012

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Written ministerial statement by Education Secretary Michael Gove on the allocation of extra £500 million to address the shortage in pupil places, and the launch of the consultation on school premises regulations.

• Updated: 3 November 2011

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Schools Minister Nick Gibb says too few pupils get their first choice.

• Updated: 17 March 2011

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government