Provision of new Free Schools

Based on current Local Plan sites, there is potential for up to seven new free schools opening across Cheshire East. These options have been identified in areas with substantial local development infrastructure (for example, Handforth Garden Village), where new school provision would help meet growing local demand.

Where a local authority has clear evidence that a new school is required, statutory guidance places the authority under a duty to seek proposals to establish an academy (free school):

• Establishing a new school free school presumption

Further information about free schools is available from the New Schools Network.

Sponsoring a free school

The Academy Trust appointed to lead and manage a new free school must be eligible to do so. This eligibility is known as Academy Sponsor Status.

Only an Academy Trust can apply for Academy Sponsor Status. Individual schools within a trust cannot apply in their own right. Academies wishing to become sponsors must obtain formal agreement from their Academy Trust, usually through a Trust resolution confirming their intention to sponsor a free school.

Where a school has a religious character, additional authorisation is also required from the relevant religious body.

• Guidance for an Academy Sponsor
• Academy Sponsor Application Form

The approval process can take up to two months from the point of application.
While it is possible to apply for sponsor status at the same time as applying to sponsor a free school, this approach is normally for exceptional circumstances. Applicants are strongly advised to secure sponsor status well in advance.

Decisions on academy sponsor approvals are made by the Regional Schools Director

Information for proposers

When the Local Authority identifies a need for a new school, it is required to trigger a competition under Section 6A of the Education Act (2011).

Key features of the process:

• Competitions typically run for 6–8 weeks (sometimes shorter)
• All applicants must already be approved academy sponsors
• The Department for Education provides model criteria, which the Local Authority may amend if necessary

Further guidance can be found in The Free School Presumption guidence 

Cheshire East Schools briefing

The School Organisation and Capital Strategy Team held a briefing session for interested schools to:

• Emphasise the importance of increasing the number of local schools with sponsor status
• Share information on current proposed free school options across Cheshire East

The New Schools Network attended the session and offered support to Cheshire East schools throughout all aspects of the free school process.

Schools can access the following resource to support further internal briefings with school leaders, governors, or trustees. 

The Sponsor application process presentation (PDF, 2MB) is available for schools to use to brief other school leaders, governors or trustees.

Further briefings will follow as and when specific specifications are drawn up for Local Authority Free School options. It is likely that Kingsley Fields in Nantwich will be the first of these.