"NSN welcomes the Government scheme to provide loans for new schools in housing estates. Bridging the gap in funding from housing developers was a key part of our recommendations in Free schools: The next 10 years and we are delighted the Government has listened to our proposal.
NSN News
Thu 10 October 2019
Fri 4 October 2019
"It is truly shocking that a lack of high-quality alternative provision has resulted in local authorities knowingly sending our most vulnerable children to an unregistered, unaccountable 'school'."
"AP free schools offer a truly transformative opportunity for children to thrive in a non-mainstream setting, giving them a real second chance. We cannot allow a lack of provision to write off their life chances."
Thu 3 October 2019
"New Schools Network welcomes the White Paper published by the Confederation of School Trusts (CST) today. As outlined in our response to the consultation, and in our recent report Free schools: the next 10 years, we believe it is essential that effective incentives are in place to ensure there is enough capacity to sustainably grow new, high-performing single- and multi-academy trusts.
Mon 30 September 2019
"It's fantastic to see the Government throw its weight behind the life changing work of free schools at the Conservative Party Conference today. The panel of free school leaders displayed the diversity and success of free schools across the country, which are transforming life chances for children.
Fri 27 September 2019
"I am delighted that free schools continue to set primary pupils on the right path to achieving their full potential. For the fifth year in a row, free schools are the top performing school type of school at Key Stage 1 assessment and phonics checks.
"This follows on from successful results days at GCSE and A Level, where free schools were among the highest performing schools in the country.
Thu 26 September 2019
"This vital research by the Sutton Trust has highlighted once more unnecessary inequality in our education system. It is not acceptable for disadvantaged children to fall behind because their parents cannot afford private tuition. In school education should not require supplementary tuition for pupils whose parents can pay when most cannot. Inequality in private tuition is one factor in the challenge to close the attainment gap. But this means we need to focus even more on high-quality education in schools.
Mon 23 September 2019
"It is disappointing to see the Labour Party continue to reject the achievements of free schools. The evidence of their successes is undeniable; they are the highest performing type of state school at Key Stages One, Four and Five and are more likely to be rated Outstanding. Free schools champion social justice, with pupils who receive free school meals performing better than any other type of school and in a number of cases, disadvantaged children are outperforming their peers at Progress 8."
Fri 20 September 2019
“Year after year, finding a suitable site continues to be the single biggest issue for free schools. From a survey conducted by New Schools Network, 70% of open and pre-open free schools identified finding a site as the biggest challenge. Too often, local authorities are dragging their feet when it comes to releasing land for much-needed new schools that will benefit local families. If councils continue to obstruct and delay, the Government should step in and legislate to compel local authorities to release what is already publicly-owned land to new free school groups.
