Schools and education

It will provide spaces for 180 children and young people with autism spectrum condition and/or associated complex needs moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties, complementing our existing SEND provision.

It is our aim that the new special free school will open in 2025/26. This date my vary dependent on pre-opening stage.

Alongside the Department for Education, we will be seeking proposals from organisations that are interested in establishing and running the new special free school.

Engagement events

We will be holding online engagement events for prospective trusts to find out more and have the opportunity to ask questions. 

There's no need to book; simply join via MS Teams one of the following days (links to join are included in the relevant agenda).

• Special Free School Engagement Event - Friday 2 June 2023 agenda (PDF) [109KB]
• Special Free School Engagement Event - Thursday 8 June 2023 agenda (PDF) [158KB]
• Special Free School Engagement Event - Friday 9 June 2023 agenda (PDF) [102KB]

Application process

Lead applicants for proposer groups wishing to apply school should:

• read the guidance on how to apply to open a special free school and Contextual information for applicant groups applying to open a new special free school (PDF) [81KB]
• complete the mandatory pre-registration form before 5pm on Friday 16 June
• complete the application forms you receive after completing the mandatory pre-registration
• email the completed application forms to fs.applications@education.gov.uk between before midday on Thursday 31 August.

Important: If you do not complete the pre-registration, you will not receive an application to apply for a new special free school in this wave.