Leading academy trusts are bidding to open their own alternative provision free schools to reduce exclusions and keep more children in mainstream education.
Delta Academies Trust is vying for four northern free schools to add to its two “good” rated APs, while Unity Schools Partnership in Suffolk wants to open its first AP.
Meanwhile, Dudley Academies Trust and its sponsor Dudley College of Technology want to open a new AP that will offer key stage 4 vocational courses as well as “turnaround” placements to get pupils back into mainstream school.
Ministers will now decide which of the 43 applications will be successful as part of its £2.6 billion capital investment to open up to 60 new special and AP free schools.
