Around a dozen Free Schools are set to open their doors this week.
They are part of the Government's drive to raise education standards across the country and tackle educational disadvantage.
The schools, part of 24 opening this September, have been set up due to the drive of passionate teachers, charities, education experts and parents to support pupils in their communities, many in the poorest areas where results and aspiration have been low for generations. The Latest analysis from the Department of Education shows that half of the free schools are located in the 30% most deprived communities where there is an obvious need to drive up education standards.
Free Schools are funded by the Government, but have greater freedoms than schools run by local authorities. They are run by teachers - not local councils and not Westminster politicians - and have freedom over things like the length of the school day, the curriculum, and how they spend their money. They are not permitted to make a profit, and all funds raised must go back into improving education for pupils.
Schools Minister Lord Hill said:
"What parents want is the chance to send their children to a good local school with high standards. These new free schools are designed to achieve exactly that and we are committed to opening many more in the next few years.
For too long, politicians in Westminster have assumed they know best and that more political control means better results. The opposite is true. Good schools know better than politicians how to run their own affairs and that's why we're confident these free schools - which give them real independence - will offer local children a great education. It's not surprising many are oversubscribed."