As a type of academy operating outside of local authority control, free schools act as their own admissions authority. (theconversation.com)
Free schools have the same status as academies, operating outside local authority control and not having to follow the national curriculum and having more flexibility over staffing. (bbc.co.uk)
The academies programme that started in 2000 also freed schools from local authority control and gave them greater autonomy over their finances. (totalpolitics.com)