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This type of (academically successful) school is granted greater freedom than other, similar, schools - the level of independence earned extends to less LEA and DfES control over such areas as how a school decides to spend its income.

One of the main reasons for their development was the idea such schools should "spread their expertise" throughout a local community - by being at the centre of a teaching network that encouraged "good practices", for example. This might involve teachers from the Foundation school being seconded, for short periods, to non-foundation schools in an area - something that makes them similar to the Beacon Schools they are effectively replacing.

Plans are currently (2005) in place to create so-called "Super-Foundation" school status, whereby the most-successful schools gain further freedoms (such as the ability to set staff pay and conditions and vary their teaching of national curriculum subjects).