The UK Government has granted approval to build 131 new free schools across the country.

The Department for Education's decision means more than 69,000 pupil places will be created in the future.

Highlights include;

• Stone Lodge Academy - a new secondary school for 11- to 19-year-olds in Dartford, proposed by Endeavour Multi Academy Trust

• Barton Court Academy Trust Free School – proposed by the Ofsted-outstanding Barton Court Grammar School, a new non-selective free school providing 1,050 school places for 11- to 19-year-olds in Canterbury

• The Flagship School – a parent-led special school to provide 56 places for 9- to 6-year-old pupils in Hastings


• City Enterprise Academy – proposed by the successful City Learning Trust, to provide 100 alternative provision places in Stoke-on-Trent

• Sapientia Primary Prep School – proposed by The Sapientia Education Trust, providing 450 primary places in Norfolk.

• School 21 Campus and School 21 Sugar House – 2 new schools for 5-to 16-year-olds in Newham, East London, creating over 2,400 places

• Rushey Mead Free School – will provide 1,200 new secondary places in Leicester

Since 2015, 124 free schools have been opened, with a further 376 set to open by 2020.

As part of its work to open more free schools, the government has created a new body – LocatED. The organisation is made up of experienced property specialists to help speed up the process of acquiring sites for new schools and get the best value for the taxpayer.

Education Secretary Justine Greening said: "We need schools that can bring out the best in every single child no matter where they're growing up, how much their parents earn, or however different their talents are.

"That's why these new schools are so important - they give us the school places we need for the future, and they also give parents more choices to find a great school place in their area that's right for their child."

(LM/MH)