England To Open 75 New Free Schools, 14000 Extra Places As Part Of Levelling Up Plans

England plans to create thousands of new school places particularly for children in disadvantaged areas and for those with special needs.

Up to 75 new free schools and standalone sixth forms will be opened, with 14,000 extra school places made available.

A total of 15 new mainstream schools will also be introduced within 55 Education Investment Areas identified in the Levelling Up White Paper.

The first of a new wave of up to 60 special and alternative provision (AP) free schools will open from September 2025, creating 4,500 new school places.

The government says AP schools will keep pupils who have been excluded or at risk of exclusion engaged with their education, as well as offering behavioural and mental health support.

The Education Department said the drive was launched in a bid to build on commitments made in both the Levelling Up paper and in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and AP green papers, aiming to end a “postcode lottery” for pupils with special educational needs.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi is quoted as saying “All children have the right to a high-quality education. Parents should feel confident that their local school works for their child, no matter where they live or their ability…”

The special schools will offer support for pupils with needs such as autism, severe learning difficulties or social, emotional and mental health conditions, and can be built to be more accessible, equipped with ceiling hoists, wheelchair ramps and acoustically adapted classrooms.

However, policy director at the Association of School and College Leaders, Julie McCulloch, warns against selective sixth forms.

She said that while headteachers welcomed the creation of new school and sixth form places, they urged the government “against creating super-selective standalone sixth forms”.

Meanwhile, shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson, a member of the Labour Party has criticised the move.

She said ensuring every child can learn in a suitable environment is the minimum that should be expected, but after 12 years of Conservative governments the SEND system is broken.

She added that Ministers are promising a few ‘elite’ opportunities to escape a post-16 system increasingly on its knees rather than delivering a plan for education in the country.

She said “Just like the Conservatives’ mythical 40 hospitals, there’s no plan to get these schools built or promised new places delivered. This is a government of empty promises.”