MP demands answers after school 'failure'

MP Jim McMahon - raised questions

OLDHAM MP Jim McMahon has written to the Government about how it plans to tackle failing free schools in the future following the announced closure of Oldham's Collective Spirit Free School.

In a letter, the MP for Oldham West and Royton has asked Justine Greening, Secretary of State for Education, for answers for parents, staff and pupils of Collective Spirit.

Last week it was announced that the school, in Butterworth Lane, Chadderton, would be closing on July 21, with around 200 children affected.

The school, which has been dogged by controversy since it was proposed, was slammed by education inspectors for failing pupils with appalling standards. It was placed in special measures last year after an Ofsted inspection found every aspect of the school to be inadequate.

In the letter Mr McMahon said: "Like me you will be saddened by the effect that the closure of this school will have, especially on pupils and their parents.

"Neither of us will have wished for this outcome, but it was clear that failure could not be allowed to continue."

He said that pupils and parents of Collective Spirit, as well as others attending Free Schools across the country, deserve a response.

"This is especially the case in areas like Oldham, where our children's education is put at risk by a government intent on using the area to test its ideologically driven "new ideas" across education."

Mr McMahon asked the Education Secretary: "Do you not agree that this closure has highlighted serious failings in the Free School programme, in particular the lack of oversight and accountability of leadership teams at these schools?

"What lessons have the Government learnt from this closure, and what measures will be put in place to prevent this failure taking place in other Free Schools in the future?"