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| Schools minister intervenes in failing Al-Madinah and Discovery free schools | Schools minister intervenes in failing Al-Madinah and Discovery free schools |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The management of the Al-Madinah free school is to be replaced and another failing free school is on the brink of being closed after the Department for Education announced measures against the schools and published reports into mismanagement at both. | |
| Al-Madinah, an Islamic faith school in Derby, and the Discovery new school, a small primary school in Crawley, West Sussex, have been placed in special measures after failing inspections by Ofsted. Both have been investigated over financial and budget issues: Review of financial management and governance at Discovery Free School and Review of financial management and governance at Al-Madinah Education Trust. | |
| A letter from schools minister Lord Nash to the chair of Al-Madinah's governing body said the school's trustees have agreed to resign. Supervision of the school is to be handed to Barry Day, chief executive of the Greenwood Dale foundation trust, sponsor of the Greenwood academies trust, which operates 22 academies and specialises in turning around failing schools. | |
| "I cannot tolerate any child experiencing a poor quality of education in any state-funded school and am therefore determined to ensure there is a swift resolution," Nash wrote in his formal letter to Shazia Parveen, chair of the Al-Madinah Education Trust, which administered the school. | "I cannot tolerate any child experiencing a poor quality of education in any state-funded school and am therefore determined to ensure there is a swift resolution," Nash wrote in his formal letter to Shazia Parveen, chair of the Al-Madinah Education Trust, which administered the school. |
| "I have decided that the needs of the pupils at Al-Madinah school would be best served by bringing in a more experienced trust with the skills and capability required to deliver the improvements needed at the school." | "I have decided that the needs of the pupils at Al-Madinah school would be best served by bringing in a more experienced trust with the skills and capability required to deliver the improvements needed at the school." |
| Al-Madinah's governors will stay in place until Day and the Greenwood Dale trust have had time to assess the state of the school. One possible outcome is that Greenwood Dale takes over the school as part of its chain. The trust already sponsors two other free schools, the City of Peterborough academy and the City of Peterborough academy special school. | Al-Madinah's governors will stay in place until Day and the Greenwood Dale trust have had time to assess the state of the school. One possible outcome is that Greenwood Dale takes over the school as part of its chain. The trust already sponsors two other free schools, the City of Peterborough academy and the City of Peterborough academy special school. |
| A further letter from Nash to the chair of governors of the Discovery new school starts the formal legal process that could end with the school being shut – which would make it the first free school to face forced closure. | |
| After receiving damning reports by Ofsted inspectors highlighting the inadequate progress made at Discovery – most recently during a visit on 12 November – Nash told the school it has 10 days to submit a "further action statement", with the secretary of state to decide whether to terminate the school's funding, in effect closing it. | |
| "You will no doubt wish to inform staff and parents with pupils at the school of this step. I should reassure you that in the event of a decision to terminate a funding agreement of an academy or free school, we would work closely with the trustees of the school and the local authority in the interests of the children's wellbeing and education, which is our priority," Nash wrote in a letter to Chris Cook, chair of Discovery's governors. | "You will no doubt wish to inform staff and parents with pupils at the school of this step. I should reassure you that in the event of a decision to terminate a funding agreement of an academy or free school, we would work closely with the trustees of the school and the local authority in the interests of the children's wellbeing and education, which is our priority," Nash wrote in a letter to Chris Cook, chair of Discovery's governors. |
| Tristram Hunt, the shadow education secretary, said the turmoil at Al-Madinah and Discovery showed "fundamental flaws" in the government's schools policy. | |
| "As we can see from the evidence of the failings at David Cameron's flagship Al-Madinah and Discovery free schools, his changes are harming standards. | "As we can see from the evidence of the failings at David Cameron's flagship Al-Madinah and Discovery free schools, his changes are harming standards. |
| "He and his education secretary, Michael Gove, are refusing to take action to address the fundamental flaws in their schools policy that allows unqualified teachers in classrooms on a permanent basis, a lack of transparency and a complete failure of oversight," Hunt said. | |
| A spokesman for the DfE said: "The vast majority of free schools are performing well with three-quarters rated good or outstanding. But where there is failure we will not hesitate to intervene. The DfE will take swift action when children are being denied the education they deserve, no matter what type of school they attend." | A spokesman for the DfE said: "The vast majority of free schools are performing well with three-quarters rated good or outstanding. But where there is failure we will not hesitate to intervene. The DfE will take swift action when children are being denied the education they deserve, no matter what type of school they attend." |
| Discovery was among the first of the new breed of schools launched under Gove's policy, and was the first to be judged as inadequate by Ofsted inspectors. | |
| Unless a sponsor or external management willing to take over the school is found, the school is in danger of being closed. | |
| "As Ofsted reports that very little progress has been made since the school was placed in special measures, I remain extremely concerned about the quality of education children are receiving," Nash said. | "As Ofsted reports that very little progress has been made since the school was placed in special measures, I remain extremely concerned about the quality of education children are receiving," Nash said. |
| A parent whose child was one of the first pupils at the school said he decided to take her out of the school after the first Ofsted inspection criticised the school's serious shortcomings. | A parent whose child was one of the first pupils at the school said he decided to take her out of the school after the first Ofsted inspection criticised the school's serious shortcomings. |
| "Now my daughter is settled at a better run, better functioning school I see the positive difference it has made in her learning, her behaviour and her life. I feel ashamed that I let Gove's policy blunder jeopardise my daughter's education," he said. | "Now my daughter is settled at a better run, better functioning school I see the positive difference it has made in her learning, her behaviour and her life. I feel ashamed that I let Gove's policy blunder jeopardise my daughter's education," he said. |
| "Sending my daughter to Discovery was the worst parenting decision I have ever made. Taking her out is among the best." | "Sending my daughter to Discovery was the worst parenting decision I have ever made. Taking her out is among the best." |
| Discovery has about 60 pupils and opened in 2011. It offers education using Montessori principals, based on the teachings of Italian pioneer Maria Montessori. | Discovery has about 60 pupils and opened in 2011. It offers education using Montessori principals, based on the teachings of Italian pioneer Maria Montessori. |
| In its first inspection in June this year, Ofsted inspectors were severe on the primary school's leadership, saying its leaders "believe the school is far better than it is". | In its first inspection in June this year, Ofsted inspectors were severe on the primary school's leadership, saying its leaders "believe the school is far better than it is". |
| The inspection team gave the school the lowest grade – "inadequate" – in three of four categories, for pupil achievement, quality of teaching, leadership and management. "Too many pupils are in danger of leaving the school without being able to read and write properly," inspectors concluded. | The inspection team gave the school the lowest grade – "inadequate" – in three of four categories, for pupil achievement, quality of teaching, leadership and management. "Too many pupils are in danger of leaving the school without being able to read and write properly," inspectors concluded. |
| "Unless this is put right quickly, pupils are unlikely to flourish in their secondary schools and future lives." | "Unless this is put right quickly, pupils are unlikely to flourish in their secondary schools and future lives." |
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