Written Question·Department for Education·UIN 100178

Free Schools

Tabled: 15 December 2025
Answered: 18 December 2025
Named Day

Question

Nick Timothy

ConservativeWest Suffolk

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which metrics were used to decide which of the previously-approved free schools went ahead.

Answer

Josh MacAlister
Mainstream projects were evaluated against consistent criteria on the need for places, value for money, and whether they would provide a distinctive or innovative education offer or risk negatively impacting other local schools.