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Local Authority
Presumption Competitions
A free school presumption is the procedure wherein a local authority (LA) proposes a new school to address demand within their communities. Authoring an LA free school presumption application can be a challenging process that requires a thorough understanding of an LA’s specific needs, guidance, and criteria, necessitating knowledge of wider policy landscape and best practice from the free schools programme.
At the bottom of this page you will find the current live LA presumption competitions. Please reach out via our Contact page should you require PAG's support to bid for one of these opportunities.
PAG's experience & expertise
Free school bid writing
PAG has a strong track record of producing successful LA presumption bids, with over 91% of our clients making it to interview. Starting with PAG’s founder working on the first ever successful local authority presumption competition, PAG has worked with the successful bidder in five of the last six LA competitions we have been involved in, including helping deliver crucial new provision to Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire to name but a few.
Our team will provide a clearly structured application specifically tailored to fulfil the guidelines and requirements set forth by the LA, whilst also taking into consideration local knowledge, the wider policy direction, and best practice from the free school programme. It will include essential components of your DNA and vision, and outline how this will be used, demonstrating that careful consideration has been given to factors such as the context of the local area and expected pupil intake for the new school.
PAG's LA presumption competition process
PAG has been delivering successful LA presumption competition bids for our clients for close to a decade and in that time, we have developed a proven, streamlined process.
Below is a simplified timeline of what to expect from the process.
1
Kick-off call and document request
2
First draft and feedback
3
Editing process as needed
4
Final draft and submission
Post-application support
PAG’s involvement in the process doesn’t have to stop at the application submission. Whether your application is taken forward or not, there is plenty of support PAG can provide to continue to help you deliver crucial provisions for your community.
Local authority support
As a consultancy that genuinely cares about the current and future state of education in our country, we don’t just support trusts, providing plenty of services to local authorities themselves too. If you are a local authority interested in running a presumption competition, opening new independent provision, or have other projects aimed at boosting your community’s education chances, we’d be delighted to work with you.
Having worked closely with the majority LAs via our Create: Schools arm, providing the official DfE support service to free school proposers across free school waves, we have a wealth of experience working with authorities to deliver the best for their students.
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Please use the contact page above to reach out to us and we will be in touch shortly to arrange a call.
Free school interview support
As we mentioned before, our record of getting our LA presumption competition clients to interview stands at over 91%. This means we have significant experience of the interview process itself too, not just the bidding round. If your application is successful (whether we supported the writing of it or not), PAG can provide extensive, comprehensive pre-interview support, including our very popular mock interview service, to ensure you’re 100% ready when the time comes to present your case.
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To find out more, visit our post-application support page.
PAG has been working in the free school sector since its inception and that means we know a thing or two about what goes into opening a brand-new free school. With our substantial experience and extensive partner network, we can support you from the first draft of your application all the way up to the day your new school opens its doors to pupils.
The process of opening a new school is demanding enough, but when you are potentially doing it for the first time all while keeping on top of goings-on at your other sites, it can be a very stressful time indeed. With our support, you can trust that the process will run smoothly, that you will not miss any critical aspects, and vitally, it will be delivered on time.
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To find out more, visit our pre-opening project management page.
Client impact & service insights
PAG has a proven track record of success in LA competitions, with clients repeatedly seeking our expertise. A notable example is our work with the Astrum Multi-Academy Trust for competitions in the London Borough of Havering in May 2024 and Essex in July 2024. PAG’s meticulous approach has ensured that each bid is tailored to incorporate the unique strategy and blueprint of the respective Local Authority. As a result, the trust has been invited to interview for both competitions.
PAG’s dedication to understanding the specific requirements of each LA and aligning bids with the vision of LAs and clients has fostered strong, long-standing client relationships. Through our comprehensive service and attention to detail, PAG continues to deliver outstanding results, cementing its position as a trusted partner for organisations navigating the complex world of LA competition.
Open comps
Open presumption competitions
Below you will find open local authority presumption competitions open for bidding, including links to the council website.
If you would like PAG's expert support with a bid, please reach out via our contact page and we'll be in touch shortly to arrange a call.
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