Setting up a free school

To set up a free school, you’ll need to apply through the Department for Education (DfE).

A free school can be set up by groups like:

• academies
• businesses
• charities
• community or faith groups
• independent schools (private, fee-paying schools)
• parents
• schools maintained by local authorities
• teachers
• universities

All applications to set up a free school must be approved by the Secretary of State for Education.

If you meet all the criteria, you can apply to run a:

• mainstream free school
• special and alternative provision school in certain areas of England