Resources: Alternative Provision

After submitting a written proposal, free school applicants may be invited to interview as part of the assessment process.    This resource provides some general guidance about what you should expect and what you can do to prepare. It is important to note that  each interview will be tailored to your proposal, and you should be prepared to answer questions on all aspects of your application.

An academy sponsor is an individual or organisation that has been approved by the Department for Education to support an underperforming academy or group of academies. This guidance provides an overview of the process of applying to become an approved academy sponsor.

This document offers guidance on site, both at the application and pre-opening stages of the free school cycle. It details the actions that groups can take in the application phase to help identify a site. It also provides an outline of the roles that different stakeholders will take during the pre-opening phase.

Section F3 of your free school application asks you to outline the governance structure of your trust once your school is open. This resource offers guidance on how to complete section F3 of the application to meet the DfE’s criteria effectively. It explains how to usefully present information relating to your overall governance structure and what questions you should be addressing to demonstrate that your plans ensure effective decision making within your trust.

Successful free school applications come from groups with diverse backgrounds. To be approved by the Department for Education you must demonstrate that you have a team with the necessary skills and expertise to set up and run a good school. This document explains more about how to approach building your team. 

There are many different types of school in England and this document is designed to help you distinguish between them. This document provides a brief description of academies (of which free schools are a type), maintained schools, and other types of school and provides information about how they compare in areas such as  curriculum, staffing, admissions and finance.

Establishing the right governance structure for your school at the outset is crucial to ensure that your school will be managed effectively and successfully. This document will help groups looking to set up a free school in a single academy trust.

Section D1 is where you will describe more specific details of your education plan, and show how your vision will manifest in your school on a day-to-day basis. This resource is aimed at AP free school applicants and highlights some of the specific areas that this type of school will need to consider.

 This guidance aims to help you draft a press release and offers some suggestions as to how to deal with any feedback you receive.