Failing free school told to close

I'm devastated for the parents, but I'm also devastated for the kids, and I'm very angry that all this has happened.

Right from the word go I could see problems. I could see this coming. The first thing that I noticed was that a lot of family and friends connected with the school were running it.

There was no oversight and this didn't seem quite right. We were promised an individualised programme so that our children could learn at their own pace, and that there would be small classes.

They said there would be a real community spirit and that it would be child-centred. Everything they promised wasn't delivered.

In his terrible rush to roll out the Free School programme, David Cameron has abandoned high standards and basic safeguards - and the pupils at the Discovery Free School have paid the price.

David Cameron is damaging standards by allowing Free Schools to operate under a complete lack of local oversight, transparency and accountability and by allowing them to hire unqualified teachers.

We will work with parents to ensure that school places are found for pupils in accordance with published admission arrangements and we will accommodate parental preference where possible.

Although we have had no control over this situation, every effort will now be made to try and minimise disruption to children's education.

We hope that a meeting for parents can be arranged shortly to discuss options available to them.

Since the monitoring inspection by Ofsted on 12 September the Governors of Discovery New School (“The Academy”) took the decision to suspend the Headteacher [...] pending an investigation as it is clear that trust and confidence may have been lost.

I would reflect that in the past eight weeks a real sea change in how the school perceives itself has taken place. I am pleased therefore to present to you a Further Action Statement which we believe properly addresses all the points raised by Ofsted.

None of the school's teachers were delivering good lessons and all were still consistently inadequate or required improvement.

I recognise that my decision to terminate the funding agreement is likely to be disappointing for pupils, parents and all those involved with the school, but I will not allow a failing school to continue with no clear, workable plan to improve rapidly. It is not in the best interests of pupils to remain in an inadequate school.

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. [Schools Minister] Lord Nash has today notified the trust that the department will terminate its funding agreement at the end of the spring term.