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The Government is increasingly exercising its powers under the Academies Act 2010 to coerce local authorities and planning departments to make sites available for free schools.
A number of free schools that were due to open have either struggled to secure suitable or permanent sites or for those that have, a dispute has arisen with the local authorities over planning. Where a local authority refuses to transfer a vacant school site (usually pursuant to a 125 year lease at peppercorn rent), the Government can use its statutory powers to “scheme” land in its own ownership. The Government can also exert pressure by ensuring planning authorities view applications by free schools more positively, with the communities and local government minister being able to override their decisions.
Increased pressure will ensure that more sites are made available, leading to more free schools being opened. The New School’s Network suggestion that the system through which sites are identified and bought is decentralised will also help achieve this.
With the Prime Ministers announcement that he intends for Step 4 to begin on 19 July, this will also bring an end to the restrictions currently in place on education settings.
View blog
The issue of Female Genital Mutilation Protection Orders and the importance of education providers to act promptly.
Our top tips for supporting transgender and non-binary pupils.
On 4 June, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the use of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds.
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