Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced a review of the funding awarded by the previous Government to open 44 new free schools.
The review will consider whether the funding could be ‘put to better use’ by carrying out vital repairs at existing schools.
It will also consider whether the free schools will provide a ‘distinctive curriculum’ and assess their ‘impact on existing local providers’.
The schools were approved by the previous Government using its ‘free school’ application process, introduced by Michael Gove in 2010.
