Education secretary Michael Gove has revealed that the Government is committed to making it easier to secure sites for new schools as part of the coalition’s free schools initiative.

This will include allowing a wider range of sites, including residential and commercial property, to be used as schools without the need for “change of use” consent.

There will also be an extension of powers to protect existing schools’ sites, to make sure they are kept available for use by new schools where there is demand, announced the education secretary.