The Department for Education has issued new guidance entitled The academy/free school presumption: Departmental advice for local authorities and new school proposers.
The (short) guidance available here, and should be of interest to local authorities and new school proposers.
The guidance addresses the so-called ‘free school presumption’ under section 6A of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (inserted by paragraph 2 of Schedule 11 to the Education Act 2011). It addresses the local authority consultation; impact assessments; seeking proposals; funding arrangements; the assessment of proposals; and the involvement of the Department of Education in the process.