Number of studio schools set to increase over next year

There are just two existing studio schools in Kirklees and Luton, but from this academic year, others will open in Durham, North West Leicestershire, Kent and Manchester. The expansion of the model has been made possible by legislation allowing education providers to designate the institutions as free schools.

David Nicoll, chief executive of the Studio Schools Trust, said they will offer business-focused learning on sectors such as health, social care, retail and tourism.

Pupils will study the national curriculum, take part in regular paid work experience and gain qualifications through enterprise-themed practical learning.

"The schools will reflect the local economy in their areas, so in Durham they'll be learning about the construction industry and in Kent they'll be looking at green technologies," Nicoll said.

"Studio schools were approved under the previous government," he added. "We're clearly pleased that the current government has been so positive about studio schools, but we like to think that would have happened anyway."

Malcolm Trobe, policy director at the Association of School and College Leaders, argued that they can benefit pupils unsuited to mainstream education.

But he warned that the creation of new schools must not come at the expense of other schools. "We have concerns about proposals that aren't based on local consultation and generate surplus school places," he said.