Election leaves free schools in limbo

As a result of the snap election, the government’s free schools policy has come to a halt because of pre-election “purdah”.

A number of free schools are due to open this September but are now in limbo until after the election.

According to Schools Week, disruptions are also occurring to the education select committee and interventions in under-performing schools because of the election.

Purdah - the pre-election period where public bodies have to be politically neutral - means that decisions on policy matters that may be opposed by the new government will be postponed until the election ends.

Schools Week has also reported that this calls into question the Department for Education’s ability to sign funding agreements or land agreements for new free schools before June 8.