THE MEMBER of Parliament for Fareham is urging the government to fight for free schools.

According to Suella Braverman, free schools have been one of the Conservatives' major successes.

Now approaching the 10th anniversary of the programme she has issued a stark warning that the programme risks coming to an end.

Suella is urging the government to speed up the expansion of free schools and ensure that they act as drivers of competition and innovation within the system.

She claims that free schools are 50 per cent more likely to be rated outstanding by Ofsted than other types of schools and they are strongly preferred by parents to other school types.

Suella adds that they have extremely strong academic results at both primary and secondary level with disadvantaged pupils also doing better in free schools.

She said: “As the founder of a free school, I know the difference they can make to children’s lives. The free schools' programme is a wonderful achievement - but I worry that we Conservatives are not doing enough to build on our own success. We need to make it clear that free schools remain at the heart of our educational agenda and that we will do all we can to support those who want to establish them.”