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Education Secretary: 22 more free schools to open

A further 22 free schools have been will soon be open - creating 18,000 more school places across the country, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has announced.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said 'parents are flocking' to free schools Credit: Jonathan Brady / PA Wire/PA Images

Free schools are newly established schools set up by groups such as teachers, parents, businesses and academy chains, with freedom over areas such as the curriculum.

Among those approved are two academies - one in Tower Hamlets, London and the other in Bournemouth - set up by Ian Livingstone, a founder of the Games Workshop who advised the Government on the computer curriculum.

The 'Livingstone Academies' will focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and maths, the Department for Education said.

"Free schools are offering a rigorous education in communities which have never before had the opportunity of a good local school.

Parents are flocking to them in their droves - and today's announcement means that over 18,000 more children can benefit from a place in a free school.

With leading entrepreneur Ian Livingstone stepping up to open two schools, the free schools programme is proving to be a vital outlet for our society's most creative and innovative people to spread their excellence to future generations.

– Education Secretary Nicky Morgan

There are also plans to set up a new body of property experts to help find more sites for free schools, the Education Secretary said.