Free school inquiry plea

Collective Spirit free school in Chadderton

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OLDHAM'S education boss is demanding a government inquiry into the failed Collective Spirit Free School.

Councillor Amanda Chadderton, Cabinet member for education, is asking what was done to tackle concerns about the school's leadership. She will also ask Education Secretary Justine Greening and Regional Schools Commissioner Vicky Beer for extra funding to support pupils who have been let down by the school ­- with the council and other schools picking up the pieces.

Free schools are government-funded independent schools run by groups such as parents and charities.

They are free from local authority control with Oldham Council forced to give part of the former South Chadderton School site to Collective Spirit which which opened in 2013.

The council opposed the school and last year a damning Ofsted report ­- described by staunch critic Jim McMahon MP as the worst he had seen ­- rated Collective Spirit as "inadequate" and placed it in special measures.

The trust which ran the school was replaced in May. It was announced last month that the school is set to close on Thursday.

Oldham and Manchester councils have now been left to find places for the school's 210 pupils, and those who were due to start there in September. The Chronicle has been told that some Oldham schools have been told to take year 7 pupils next year even if this will take them over their permitted admission numbers, putting pressure of class sizes.

Councillor Chadderton called for the inquiry after a "robust" meeting with parents on Friday.

She said: "The council has been left to pick up the pieces after the failure of another Conservative Party pet project has failed. We have seen two secondary schools in Oldham close in the same year, Collective Spirit and the University Technical College.

"This is unprecedented and has placed enormous pressure on schools that are already seeing rising demand for places. Our number one priority is to ensure that all children at Collective Spirit have a school place come September.

"Oldham Council and the Department for Education (DfE) met with parents for a robust but productive meeting with parents, all of whom were understandably concerned and worried. Parents called for the DfE to provide further funding for additional tuition for all children affected to ensure they don't fall any further behind, and for an inquiry into what happened and why action wasn't taken sooner. The DfE conceded action should have been taken sooner.

"Closing Collective Spirit was the right thing to do: the Ofsted report was damning, leadership of the school has been almost none existent and the children have been badly let down.

"I will be writing to Regional Schools Commissioner Vicky Beer and Secretary of State for Education Justine Greening, calling for an inquiry into why Collective Spirit has failed and what has been done over the past four years when concerns regarding leadership of the school have been raised consistently. I will also be supporting the call for further funding for children affected and will be seeking answers as to how pupils will now be tracked and ensure they are given the support needed during the remainder of their school life."