Create: Schools

Create: Schools is a DfE-funded support service that has been established by PAG to support free school proposers during the application stage of opening a new free school through the central waves.
Our highly experienced Advisors provide bespoke guidance across mainstream, special education, and alternative provision (AP) routes.

Services

Create: Schools was established by PAG in 2022 to act as the Department for Education’s (DfE) sole delivery partner for the free school applicant support service. By providing expert independent advice and guidance to proposer groups, Create: Schools will support the creation of new mainstream, special, and alternative provision (AP) free schools in areas where they are most needed across the country.

The services provided by Create: Schools are delivered by a team of expert Advisors, who are committed to providing bespoke and tailored advice to any organisation or individual who is interested in opening their own free school. The team works intensively with proposers during live free school waves to develop competitive, high-quality applications in line with the DfE’s criteria and application guidance.

If you would like to find out more, please see the Create: Schools website here, or you can complete our initial engagement form here and an Advisor will be in touch shortly.

Non-DfE Funded Services

Outside of its DfE-funded remit, Create: Schools (C:S) uses its vast, unique experience of the education sector to provide first-class services to schools, trusts, and local authorities (LA) alike.

You can read about some of the services below, or alternatively, find out more information on the Create: Schools website here.

SEND Capital Funding & Mainstream Inclusion

In the wake of Labour's general election victory in 2024, the new government promised £740m to be spent on improving standards in supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Create: Schools are working closely with both multi-academy trusts (MAT) and LAs to strengthen collaboration, showcase best practise, and support evidence-based proposals that align with the government’s push for mainstream inclusion. With SEND remaining a critical priority in both policy and funding discussions, there is a significant opportunity for both LAs and MATs to position themselves as key drivers in delivering high-quality, inclusive provision in their communities.

Many are already taking proactive steps to ensure they are well-positioned for funding, and C:S are finding:

Early engagement between trusts and local authorities strengthens positioning over funding allocations
A focus on mainstream inclusion aligns directly with the government’s priorities
Evidence-based proposals showcasing best practise are proving most compelling
Strengthening collaboration with key stakeholders improves local ties
Developing evidence-based proposals demonstrates alignment with funding priorities

Support for Local Authorities

"It really helped us when we launched our free school presumption competition to engage with Create: Schools at an early stage. They helped develop the timeline and in generating as much interest as possible in the opportunity. Their help with market warming ahead of the launch resulted in a greater number of expressions of interest than we might otherwise have had, and we heard from trusts who we had not previously linked with."
Gloucestershire County Council

Create: Schools has built strong relationships with dozens of local authorities, streamlining processes during Free School Waves and demonstrating the value of sustained collaboration. These existing relationships, combined with the team's stellar sector knowledge, mean C:S continues to work with LAs outside of the Central Waves on a number of different initiatives and projects. Whether navigating funding challenges, delivering new provision, or building and maintaining stakeholder relationships, Create: Schools remains a closely trusted partner of local authorities up and down the country.

As well as the above, Create: Schools can work with LAs on:

Supporting the delivery of LA-initiated schools and ensuring fair competition
Providing guidance following policy to enable trusts and/or authorities to open schools seamlessly
Supporting with work such as feasibility studies, strategy implementation, and guidance where required
Organising engagement events and continually ensuring transparency through routes to set up new schools