Labour slams free school vacancies

Analysis published by the Labour Party has found that three quarters of the Government’s flagship free schools failed to fill their places upon opening. Figures showed that of the 24 free schools opened in 2011, only 12 reached their capacity for the first year intake. Labour claimed that 70% of free schools still failed to fill up two years after opening and accused the Government of funding free schools for 1,500 more pupils than are actually attending. Shadow Schools Minister Kevin Brennan claimed the analysis proved there was a “crisis in primary school places”.

The Independent.