Guidance: Apply to open a special or alternative provision free school

Guidance and application forms for proposer groups applying to open a local authority commissioned special or alternative provision (AP) free school.

Documents

Special and AP free schools Excel application form: sections A and B

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 77.9KB

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Special and AP free schools Word application form: sections C to F

ODT, 96.5KB

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Details

In July 2018, we launched a joint special and AP free schools wave, where we first asked local authorities to set out their case for why a new school would benefit their area.

We have now announced the 39 successful local authority bids and are inviting applications from proposer groups to open the new schools in these areas.

If you are interested in applying to run any of these schools you need to register your interest first using the pre-application registration form.

The ‘how to apply’ guidance explains the criteria that all applications will be assessed against.

The deadline for proposer groups to submit an application to run one of the special or alternative provision free schools is midday on Monday 30 September 2019.

More information on opening a free school is available.

Contact the New Schools Network if you need more advice on how to set up a free school.

Published 13 November 2013
Last updated 11 March 2019 + show all updates

1. 11 March 2019 Added guidance and application forms for proposer groups applying to open and run a special or alternative provision free school.
2. 17 December 2018 Removed the reference to the number of bids we will approve, following the announcement yesterday that we will no longer cap the number of bids.
3. 13 August 2018 Added ‘Specification for special or alternative provision free school bids’ and ‘Form for special or alternative provision free school bids’.
4. 24 July 2018 Updated the guidance and criteria document and removed old forms and guidance.
5. 29 July 2016 Added application forms and assessment criteria for wave 12.
6. 22 December 2015 Updated assessment criteria and application forms.
7. 27 July 2015 Updated documents with wave 10 information.
8. 6 February 2015 Documents updated in preparation for Wave 9 applications.
9. 30 September 2014 Updated ‘Special free school application form: sections C to F’.
10. 23 September 2014 Added updated ‘Special free school application form: sections C to F’.
11. 20 August 2014 Updated downloads for sections A,B,H and C F
12. 13 August 2014 Updated ‘Special free school application: criteria for assessment’ document.
13. 11 June 2014 Added financial template to help groups opening a special free school plan their budget.
14. 30 May 2014 Updated with wave 8 information.
15. 11 March 2014 Updated documents for wave 7 application.
16. 13 November 2013 First published.