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Briefings

Free Schools and Disadvantaged Intakes

This study explores the proportion of socioeconomically disadvantaged children attending Free Schools. It considers the extent to which Free Schools appear to be taking an equal share of poorer pupils when compared to other nearby schools. The data show that many of the schools substantially underrepresent disadvantaged children. These findings confirm the need for continued monitoring of the policy alongside further examination of the admissions policies and practices used by autonomous schools.