New report shows vulnerable pupils are missing out on vital Alternative Provision places because of free schools review

New analysis from New Schools Network shows AP free schools outperform other state-funded provision – but uncertainty to the AP free school pipeline risks leaving vulnerable pupils without high-quality places.

The report finds that:

• Demand for Alternative Provision (AP) is up 31.8% in three years

• Fewer than 17,000 pupils are educated in state-funded AP schools

• AP free schools have lower absence and stronger post-16 outcomes than other state-funded AP

Demand is rising rapidly across primary, secondary and post-16 – yet limited state-funded capacity forces local authorities to rely on independent or unregistered provision. The report sets out evidence that AP free schools deliver stronger outcomes and argues that high-quality AP is a necessary part of an inclusive system.

Recommendations for the Schools White Paper

Among the recommendations, the report calls on Government to:

• Approve and swiftly open the 20 AP free schools approved in 2024 and currently under consideration by local authorities following the Government’s offer of alternative funding.

• Ensure no young person in AP is placed in unsuitable or low-quality provision, including by requiring local authorities to discharge section 19 duty through placement in a state-funded school, alongside national standards and improved data.

• Expand high-quality state-funded AP capacity, including primary and post-16.

Meg Powell-Chandler, Director of New Schools Network, said:

“The 20 free school projects in the pipeline have already been delayed, leaving vulnerable children without the specialist support they need. They need to be opened as soon as possible.

“High-quality AP schools are not a retreat from inclusion, but a necessary part of an inclusive system for pupils whose needs cannot be met elsewhere. AP free schools outperform other types of state-funded Alternative Provision, with better attendance and stronger outcomes post-16. They are doing exactly what the system needs them to do.

“Reform is needed so that every pupil in Alternative Provision is in a state-funded school, with clear standards, strong accountability and a focus on sustainable outcomes.”

Read press coverage of the report in TES here and The Telegraph here.