Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many places were created by the free schools programme in (a) wave 1, (b) wave 2, (c) wave 3, (d) wave 4, (e) wave 5, (f) wave 6, (g) wave 7 and (h) wave 8; and what number and proportion of such places have been created in areas of high and severe need for primary school places.

When the schools are at full capacity, around (a) 58,000 primary schools places, (b) 104,000 secondary school places and 50,000 places at all-through schools will be created by the free schools that have already opened or that are working towards opening in September 2015 and beyond. Special, 16-19 and alternative provision free schools will provide an additional 15,000 places.

The table below summarises the number of primary, secondary school and all-through places created in each free school application wave. 46,150 primary places (80%) are in areas with a projected shortfall of primary places at the time the free school application was approved.