Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 1.2 of Free Schools: how to apply, published by her Department in February 2015, what definition her Department uses for the term, need for pupil places.

Wave 9 free school applications will be assessed against the criteria set out in “Free school applications: criteria for assessment”, which is published on the Gov.UK website: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/401234/free-school-applications-criteria-for-assessment-mainstream-and-16-to-19_feb_2015_final.pdf

The criteria make clear that the assessment of an application will include an assessment of the extent to which the proposed school addresses any shortage of school places in the area (“need for pupil places”). The assessment will also judge the extent to which the school will add to the diversity of local provision, offer higher standards than other local schools and respond to parental demand (“local demand for new provision”).

All wave 9 applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their free school application. In due course, the successful applications and outcome letters sent to successful applicants will be published on the GOV.UK website.