<P> Free schools approvals are processed and announced in batches, known as' waves' . </P> <P> Wave 1: In the autumn of 2010, Education Secretary Michael Gove announced that 16 proposals for free schools had been given a green light by the Government and were expected to open in September 2011 . </P> <P> This number eventually grew to 24 . Five of the original 16 schools were faith schools: two Jewish, one Evangelical Anglican, one Hindu and one Sikh . </P> <P> Wave 2: In September 2012 the Department of Education announced 55 new free schools would open that month . </P>

When did free schools start in the uk