A free school in England is a type of academy established since 2010 under the Government's free school policy initiative.[1] From May 2015, usage of the term was formally extended to include new academies set up via a local authority competition.[2] Like other academies, free schools are non-profit-making, state-funded schools which are free to attend but which are mostly independent of the local authority.[3] Free school is not a generic term for any school that does not charge fees.