ABSTRACT
In 2010 the Coalition government introduced a new category of school into the English state system, namely the Free School. There are now more than 300 Free Schools in England with another 150 in the pipeline and the Conservative government wants to see a further 500 by 2020. These schools are independent of their local authority and are exempt from teaching the National Curriculum. Toby Young, one of the first promoters, was vociferous in his support for Free Schools as a means of bringing about much-needed change within the education system. Route Academy was set up as Free School by a group of local parents to provide high quality choice of secondary education in rural north Devon. Free Schools came about from Conservative government's belief in giving those with a passion for a new and better way of learning the ability to create a school. As a new school, Free School is immediately set against one or more rival schools.
