Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many of the schools approved in Wave (a) 9, (b) 10, (c) 11, (d) 12 and (e) 13 of the free schools programme are (i) under construction and (ii) open.

Since 2010, the Government has funded thousands of good new school places across the country through the free schools programme. The programme aims to kick-start wider improvement, inject fresh approaches and draw in talent from a variety of backgrounds.

As at 1 October 2019, there are 507 open free schools, 48 university technical colleges and 24 studio schools, which will provide over 320,000 places when at capacity. The attached table contains the information requested.

The length of time it takes to identify, acquire and adapt the right site can sometimes mean that it is necessary for a school to open in temporary accommodation to meet the need for school places in the local area. As such, a free school can open whilst works are taking place on the permanent site.

Where we have had concerns over the long-term success and viability of a proposed school, we have taken swift and decisive action to cancel the project. On occasion, a trust will decide to withdraw a project before the proposed school opens. The primary objective of the Department in all cases is to ensure the best possible educational outcomes for local pupils and to secure value for money for the taxpayer.