DfE Free Schools build cost

The DfE Free Schools Programme: mainstream, SEN and AP free school routes, typically delivered by DfE / LocatED or trust-led.

Mainstream free schools

DfE / LocatED procures the site, project-manages delivery (often via a CF25 contractor[CF25]), then transfers the building to the sponsor trust. Cost sits at LGA medians and is rarely an outlier because the Department's standard output specification (Spec21[Spec21]) is used directly.

Special free schools

Special free schools are sponsored by trusts, sometimes via SEN-specialist partners. The cost-per-place reflects BB104 area uplift[BB104] (around £74-83k/place; see SEN 60-place).

AP free schools

Alternative provision free schools target a smaller cohort with higher per-place facilities (vocational suites, life-skills, smaller class sizes). £/place runs higher than mainstream but lower than SEN special.

Free Schools vs LA basic-need

Free Schools is centrally procured; basic-need[basic-need] is LA-procured. Both deliver new places, but with different governance and tendering routes. Cost-per-place is broadly comparable at the LGA median.