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Failing free school is ordered to close Failing free school is ordered to close
(about 1 hour later)
The government has ordered the closure of a failing free school for the first time after education inspectors found standards there unacceptably poor.The government has ordered the closure of a failing free school for the first time after education inspectors found standards there unacceptably poor.
The Discovery New School in Crawley, West Sussex, has had its funding pulled after failing to make the improvements asked of it.The Discovery New School in Crawley, West Sussex, has had its funding pulled after failing to make the improvements asked of it.
Schools minister Lord Nash wrote to governors saying the school must close in April next year. Schools Minister Lord Nash wrote to governors saying the school must close next April.
The Department for Education said most free schools performed well.The Department for Education said most free schools performed well.
Free schools are state-funded but independently run schools, often set up by parents, teachers and academy chains. There are 174 of them in England, two of which, including the Crawley school have been found to be providing inadequate standards of education. Free schools are state-funded but independently run schools, often set up by parents, teachers and academy chains. There are 174 in England, two of which, including the Crawley school, have been found to be providing inadequate standards of education.
The decision to order the closure of the school will be embarrassing for the government, as free schools are one of its flagship education policies.The decision to order the closure of the school will be embarrassing for the government, as free schools are one of its flagship education policies.
But the government insists that overall free schools are providing a good standard of education.But the government insists that overall free schools are providing a good standard of education.
Discovery New School was visited by Ofsted chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw's team three times in the last six months. Discovery New School was visited by Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw's team three times in the past six months.
It went into special measures in May when the education inspectorate warned children risked leaving the school not being able to read and write. It went into special measures in May when the education inspectorate warned that children risked leaving the school not being able to read and write.
A monitoring inspection in September judged the action plan of the academy trust which runs the school to be "not fit for purpose". A monitoring inspection in September judged the action plan of the academy trust that runs the school to be "not fit for purpose".
The latest visit on November 12 revealed the academy had not made enough progress to warrant it being removed from special measures. Some 58 "milestones" were to be met by February 2014. The latest visit, on 12 November, revealed that the academy had not made enough progress to warrant it being removed from special measures. Some 58 "milestones" were to be met by next February.
A DfE spokesman said: "Since the school was placed in special measures by Ofsted in May we have monitored progress closely. A DfE spokesman said: "Since the school was placed in special measures by Ofsted in May, we have monitored progress closely.
"The trust has not provided evidence they are making the changes required. Lord Nash has today notified the trust that the department will terminate its funding agreement at the end of the spring term."The trust has not provided evidence they are making the changes required. Lord Nash has today notified the trust that the department will terminate its funding agreement at the end of the spring term.
"We are now working with West Sussex County Council to ensure the children affected have suitable alternatives in place and their transition is as smooth as possible.""We are now working with West Sussex County Council to ensure the children affected have suitable alternatives in place and their transition is as smooth as possible."
'Monitored closely''Monitored closely'
In his letter to the school's chair of governors, Chris Cook, Lord Nash said: "We know from inspection evidence that teaching and learning is inadequate in DNS, and that there has been little or no improvement since Ofsted's judgement that the school required special measures in May. Lord Nash, in his letter to the school's chair of governors, Chris Cook, said: "We know from inspection evidence that teaching and learning is inadequate in DNS, and that there has been little or no improvement since Ofsted's judgement that the school required special measures in May.
"The number and nature of the actions and milestones to be achieved demonstrates that the staff are currently unable to deliver teaching and learning even at the most basic level with the consequence for the pupils of continued inadequate teaching for an unacceptable length of time. "The number and nature of the actions and milestones to be achieved demonstrates that the staff are currently unable to deliver teaching and learning even at the most basic level, with the consequence for the pupils of continued inadequate teaching for an unacceptable length of time.
"Further, the training implication for staff is enormous. It is difficult to see how they would be able to attend all the training listed and at the same time provide adequate teaching for the pupils.""Further, the training implication for staff is enormous. It is difficult to see how they would be able to attend all the training listed and at the same time provide adequate teaching for the pupils."
The move was announced after a National Audit Office report warned speed in rolling out the programme had been prioritised over value for money. The average capital costs of a free school, many of which are converted from existing buildings, is £6.6m. The move was announced after a National Audit Office report warned that speed in rolling out the programme had been prioritised over value for money. The average capital costs of a free school, many of which are converted from existing buildings, is £6.6m.
Although Discovery New School is the first free school to be ordered to close permanently, another school in Derby, the Muslim Al-Madinah Free School has been threatened with closure if it does not improve. Although Discovery New School is the first free school to be ordered to close permanently, the Muslim Al-Madinah Free School in Derby has been threatened with closure if it does not improve.
On Thursday, an Ofsted report found that there were "no signs of improvement" at the school and that it "remains in chaos".On Thursday, an Ofsted report found that there were "no signs of improvement" at the school and that it "remains in chaos".