Asked by: Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to preserve, maintain and develop free schools
Answered by Lord Nash
This Government wants to create a country that works for everyone and education is at the heart of that ambition. As a result of our reforms, there are 1.8 million more children in good or outstanding schools than in 2010 and free schools have played an important part in that success.
Since 2010, we have opened more than 400 new free schools, which will provide over 234,000 places when at capacity. A further 350 free schools have been approved to open in the next few years, with around 50 opening this September.
29 per cent of free schools inspected by Ofsted have been rated outstanding. We will build on this success by continuing to approve new free schools in areas where there is a clear need for more good school places.