"The report from the APPG on Knife Crime has shown us the shocking extent of the crisis in alternative provision (AP). It is not acceptable that one third of local authorities have no spaces in their state funded AP. We cannot allow a lack of provision to write off life chances and risk allowing vulnerable children to fall into gang violence.

"We welcome this report from the Education Select Committee, highlighting a serious shortfall in provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.

Provisional GCSE results released today show that free schools are once again the highest performing school type at Progress 8, with an average score of 0.21.

This is the third year running that free schools have topped the tables.

"We welcome the Education Policy Institute’s latest assessment of the free schools programme which highlights the programme’s great successes, as well as its shortcomings.

"The above average performance of disadvantaged pupils in secondary free schools proves the policy's potential to transform education and raise standards for those in the greatest need.

"We agree entirely that new free schools should be targeted towards areas suffering from chronic educational underperformance and communities that have been left behind and have been calling for this for some time.

"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.

"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." 

"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.

"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.