The change means that groups who see their applications rejected by the Department for Education can reapply much more quickly to open a new state-funded free school.
It comes as applications for 10 more free schools have been approved, including eight mainstream schools, a 6th form and an alternative provision school. There are currently 174 of the schools open and 115 in the pipeline.
Elsewhere, another five studio schools and six university technical colleges (UTCs) have also been given the green light.
Announcing the changes to the applications procedures, the Department for Education said: “Due to the popularity of free schools, the Department for Education has changed the application process to allow parents and other groups three opportunities per year to submit proposals compared to just one previously.
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