Frequently Asked Questions

Free schools are independent, state-funded schools. They have the same legal status as academies.

No. Free Schools can only be set up and owned by charities. The school will be run by the Head and their leadership team and they will be answerable to a Board of Governors.

No. Free schools have to follow the new admissions code like all state-funded schools. The Local Authority will commission Daventry Hill School to provide places for children where it believes a child’s statement of need can best be met by the school.

No. Funding for special free schools will be equivalent to the funding of maintained special schools and academies in the same local authority area. The opening of a free school does not mean that the overall funding available in an area goes down. However, the total funding an individual school receives will depend on the number of pupils attending.

Yes. All free schools are subject to inspection in the same way as other academy category schools.

Shez Webb has been appointed as Executive Head. Shez is an inspirational leader with more than 25 years in special education, and brings a wealth of experience in supporting a wide range of children’s needs. Shez is currently Executive Head of Northgate School Arts College, a special school in Northampton and rated outstanding by Ofsted.

The school will be run by a Board of Governors who will be accountable to the charitable trust which oversees the school, Education Excellence for All. In addition the school will also be accountable to the Department for Education through the terms of its Funding Agreement.