Over 100 new free schools with 50,000 places win initial Government support

When these schools open they will deliver around 50,000 new school places across the country, according to the Department for Education (DfE).

The new free school plans which have been approved to the pre-opening stage include one in Doncaster which is said to be based on the charter schools movement in the United States.

The XP School is described as a “teacher-led proposal” which aims to prepare pupils for adult life by “facilitating authentic, real world experiences.”

There are 81 free schools open across the country, including seven in West Yorkshire, with a further 109 aiming to open in September and beyond nationwide.

In total, all currently approved free schools would deliver 130,000 new school places when full, the DfE said.

However the National Union of Teachers general secretary Christine Blower said: “It is extraordinary that at a time when the shortage of primary school places amounts to nothing short of a national crisis that the Government is persisting with the folly of its free school policy.

“Less than a third of the approved free schools are primary schools; and 45 per cent of the new schools will be located in London, which by common agreement already boasts the best schools in the country.

“NUT analysis shows the DfE has already spent over £200 million of taxpayers’ money on free schools, of which almost £19 million has been spent on schools which are not yet open.

“Furthermore the Union’s research has revealed 20 per cent of the 145 mainstream free schools approved in waves two and three of the programme are adding to significant excess capacity locally.”

Free schools are state-funded and run independent of local authority control. The Government has encouraged groups of teachers, parents and community groups to apply to set them up where they have parental demand.