The Department for Education has announced that more free schools are to be developed in England.

Education secretary Nicky Morgan announced that she has approved 35 applications for free schools, which will help deliver more than 22,000 additional school places across the country.

The government said that this is part of its wider plan to transform education in England. New schools, it explained, will deliver more choice to parents, as well as enhance standards “across the board”.

News of this came as a new survey was published lauding the success of free schools.

Headteachers of these institutions said that one of the interesting benefits of free schools has been their role in boosting the standard of education in other schools.

The poll showed, for example, that 84 per cent of free schools are working with neighbouring schools – greater collaboration is advantageous for all parties.

“Thanks to our plan for education more children in England have the opportunity to go to a good or outstanding school than ever before and free schools have been crucial to that change,” Ms Morgan said.

“With more than two-thirds of free schools meeting this high standard. We are giving thousands more parents a choice of high-quality local schools that offer the excellent standard of education that all pupils deserve.”

Free schools are unique in that they are funded by the government but not run by local councils.

That gives them a great deal of freedom in deciding how to run things and are in charge of, for example, setting their own pay and conditions to staff and having free reign over and how long a school day and term should be.

They are run on a not-for-profit basis and can be set up by all sorts of groups and organisations. This includes parents, universities, charitiesand businesses.