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Free school data published by government Free schools got £60m for 'essential costs', data shows
(about 2 hours later)
The government has published more information on free schools in England in response to a ruling by the information commissioner. The government has spent almost £60m on helping free schools in England before they open and during their first year of operation, figures reveal.
In January, the government lost a bid to withhold information on groups wanting to set up free schools that are state-funded but independently run. The figures were published by the Department for Education after a ruling by the information commissioner.
Education Secretary Michael Gove has said that he wants to be "careful" with the information. In January, the government lost a bid to withhold information on free schools that are state-funded but independently run.
The new data includes financial details and impact assessments. The money is in addition to the funding schools receive to teach pupils.
Once they are all uploaded, the figures, published on the Department for Education website, will include impact assessments on other local schools for the first 24 free schools to open, funding agreements for the second wave of schools and details of expenditure for all the schools now open. Details of revenue expenditure on free schools on the Department for Education website show almost £40m was handed to 72 free schools in their first year after opening.
Requests rejected 'Essential costs'
There will also be details of all applications, both successful and unsuccessful, to open both mainstream free schools and specialist free schools, such as university technology colleges or studio schools. This "start-up funding" is to cover "essential initial costs, such as buying books and equipment" and other "additional costs associated with starting a brand new school", says the DfE.
The DfE had previously rejected Freedom of Information requests for details of the groups wanting to set up schools. In addition nearly £20m was spent on schools before they opened "to cover everything they need to buy up to the point at which the school opens."
The information commissioner backed the requests, but the government appealed against the decision. The first 24 free schools opened in 2011, with another 55 in 2012. This funding does not include capital for buying a site or refurbishing buildings or money for free schools due to open later this year.
The DfE argued that revealing the identity of unsuccessful applicants could put them off from reapplying or could deter interest from other groups. Private schools which convert to free school status do not receive start-up funding as they are already open and deemed to be fully equipped.
It also made the case that the identities of any bids would become public once they had got beyond an initial application - and that the only extra information to be revealed would be those groups rejected at the first stage. The data also shows that some £441,000 was spent on eight free school projects which were withdrawn before they opened.
Some information about the groups bidding to run the schools was published in February. Then the data showed that a quarter of applications to set up the schools were from faith-based organisations. Stephen Twigg, Labour's shadow education secretary called the expenditure "scandalous".
"David Cameron and Michael Gove have wasted hundreds of thousands of pounds on free schools that haven't even opened. And millions of pounds have been spent on free schools which are being set up in areas where there isn't a need for new places or demand from parents."
The government said it made "no apologies for spending money on encouraging new people to come forward, offering new ideas and new ways to run schools".
A spokesman added: "The evidence proves that new schools also encourage the ones which already exist to raise their game.
"Free schools are proving highly popular with families who expect better than the old 'take it or leave it' offer they used to get from the council. This process has a cost but the cost of educational failure is vastly higher."
The DfE had rejected Freedom of Information requests for for details on free schools and on groups applying to set them up but the information commissioner backed the requests.
'Protecting applicants''Protecting applicants'
This compares with a third of state schools that have a faith designation. The newly published figures include impact assessments on other local schools, funding agreements for the second wave of schools and details of expenditure for all the schools now open.
In a letter to the information commissioner in February, Mr Gove said he had resisted publishing the information because the DfE wanted to protect applicants from "intimidation". There are also details of all applications, both successful and unsuccessful, to open both mainstream free schools and specialist free schools, such as university technology colleges or studio schools.
The government hopes that, in future, all new schools will be free schools but opponents fear they will lead to the break-up of the state education system and draw money and pupils away from existing schools. In a letter to the information commissioner in February, the Education Secretary said he had resisted publishing the information because he wanted to protect applicants from "intimidation".
Kevin Courtney, deputy general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said publication of the information was a major victory. Kevin Courtney of the National Union of Teachers, said publication of the information was a major victory.
"We will now be going back to them to insist that they publish the remaining impact assessments where a decision has been made whether or not to open a free school."We will now be going back to them to insist that they publish the remaining impact assessments where a decision has been made whether or not to open a free school.
"Not releasing the impact assessment information has always been a totally unacceptable position for the DfE to take. Local schools and communities have a right to know the criteria by which new schools are being opened in their areas and now thankfully they do.""Not releasing the impact assessment information has always been a totally unacceptable position for the DfE to take. Local schools and communities have a right to know the criteria by which new schools are being opened in their areas and now thankfully they do."
Another 200 free schools are due to open from September 2013. In Wednesday's spending review the Chancellor announced funding for 180 new free schools in 2015-16.