They are run by teachers - not local or central government bureaucrats. They have the freedom to decide the length of the school day and term, the curriculum, and how they reward their teachers and spend their money. Many of the free schools approved today will be based in areas of deprivation, or where there is a shortage of school places, like the schools open or approved before them: The full list of approved projects can be found here.
Among the free school proposals approved today are:
* The Jane Austen College in Norwich - a secondary school for 1,100 students that will specialise in English. It has been proposed by inspirational Head Teacher, Rachel De Souza. The school will have a focus on cultural literacy and traditional academic subjects, with every pupil studying a language until 16, with the option to study Latin.
* National Autistic Society (NAS) Free Schools - NAS has had two schools for children and young people with autism approved today. One, for 60 pupils, will be in east Cheshire and the other, for 78 pupils, will be in Lambeth. This builds on NAS's first free school that is due to open in Reading in September.
* East London Academy of Music (ELAM) - a music school for 16-19 year olds in Tower Hamlets. The school is the brainchild of Will Kennard, one half of production duo Chase and Status, who wants to give talented students from deprived areas the opportunity to be successful.
Will brought together a group of talented and innovative teachers and professionals with experience of education. With the support of the music industry they created a vision for ELAM, a school where any pupil with potential can realise success. Sir Nick Williams, former Head Teacher of the BRIT School, is supporting the school.
* North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College in Weston-Super-Mare - a 700-pupil 14-19 free school proposed by the local Weston FE College. The Free School will deliver a full curriculum, with an emphasis on STEM subjects. At KS4, all students will be entered for the English Baccalaureate and additional GCSEs, or will combine their core subjects with vocational Level 2 subjects.
In total, 70 of the applications approved today are from teachers, existing schools, and educational organisations. Twenty-four of the approved free schools - 8 special free schools and 16 alternative provision free schools - will serve the most vulnerable children and young people. This adds to the 5 special and 12 alternative provision free schools that opened in September 2012, and Harmonize Academy, an alternative provision free school, that opened in January this year.
There are fewer schools approved this year with a faith designation or ethos. Fifteen will be faith designated, compared with 20 last year. Ten will have a faith ethos, compared with 13 last year.
Today's announcement underlines the continuing demand for free schools. More local communities want a different or better school to meet the needs of their children and to help drive up standards in their local area.
Education Secretary Michael Gove said: "There are many innovators in local communities set on raising standards of education for their children. I am delighted to approve so many of their high-quality plans to open a free school. Free schools are extremely popular with parents and are delivering strong discipline and teaching excellence across the country."
Among the free school proposals approved today are:
* The Jane Austen College in Norwich - a secondary school for 1,100 students that will specialise in English. It has been proposed by inspirational Head Teacher, Rachel De Souza. The school will have a focus on cultural literacy and traditional academic subjects, with every pupil studying a language until 16, with the option to study Latin.
* National Autistic Society (NAS) Free Schools - NAS has had two schools for children and young people with autism approved today. One, for 60 pupils, will be in east Cheshire and the other, for 78 pupils, will be in Lambeth. This builds on NAS's first free school that is due to open in Reading in September.
* East London Academy of Music (ELAM) - a music school for 16-19 year olds in Tower Hamlets. The school is the brainchild of Will Kennard, one half of production duo Chase and Status, who wants to give talented students from deprived areas the opportunity to be successful.
Will brought together a group of talented and innovative teachers and professionals with experience of education. With the support of the music industry they created a vision for ELAM, a school where any pupil with potential can realise success. Sir Nick Williams, former Head Teacher of the BRIT School, is supporting the school.
* North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College in Weston-Super-Mare - a 700-pupil 14-19 free school proposed by the local Weston FE College. The Free School will deliver a full curriculum, with an emphasis on STEM subjects. At KS4, all students will be entered for the English Baccalaureate and additional GCSEs, or will combine their core subjects with vocational Level 2 subjects.
In total, 70 of the applications approved today are from teachers, existing schools, and educational organisations. Twenty-four of the approved free schools - 8 special free schools and 16 alternative provision free schools - will serve the most vulnerable children and young people. This adds to the 5 special and 12 alternative provision free schools that opened in September 2012, and Harmonize Academy, an alternative provision free school, that opened in January this year.
There are fewer schools approved this year with a faith designation or ethos. Fifteen will be faith designated, compared with 20 last year. Ten will have a faith ethos, compared with 13 last year.
Today's announcement underlines the continuing demand for free schools. More local communities want a different or better school to meet the needs of their children and to help drive up standards in their local area.
Education Secretary Michael Gove said: "There are many innovators in local communities set on raising standards of education for their children. I am delighted to approve so many of their high-quality plans to open a free school. Free schools are extremely popular with parents and are delivering strong discipline and teaching excellence across the country."
