UPDATE from the BBC (April 4 2014): Discovery Free School shut down
This is from the DfE's investigation reports:
http://www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/executiveagencies/efa/efafundingfinance/b00212647/external-assurance/academiesfraud-/investigation-reports
The investigation document (published in October 2013) included theses paragraphs:
'The Trust does not monitor cash flow, does not have an approved budget for
2013-14 and has not developed an up to date long term financial plan. There is
a significant risk that the school may not be able to meet its financial obligations
and may not represent a going concern.
Showing posts with label discovery new school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label discovery new school. Show all posts
Tuesday, 4 February 2014
Friday, 17 January 2014
Rescue bid for Discovery New School fails - the effects
From the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-25738221
'A decision to close a free school over poor standards is final, the Department for Education (DfE) has said.'
'It follows a meeting on Tuesday between governors of Discovery New School in Crawley and schools minister Lord Nash.'
The DfE said: "The decision to close the Discovery New School is final and funding will be withdrawn from the trust at the end of the spring term."
Update on effects from Crawley News: http://www.crawleynews.co.uk/Pupils-limbo-school-counts-closure/story-20444665-detail/story.html
One parent said: "This is not a standard situation. I believe the Department for Education, before closing the school, should have had in place some kind of procedure for when a school closes like this."
'A decision to close a free school over poor standards is final, the Department for Education (DfE) has said.'
'It follows a meeting on Tuesday between governors of Discovery New School in Crawley and schools minister Lord Nash.'
The DfE said: "The decision to close the Discovery New School is final and funding will be withdrawn from the trust at the end of the spring term."
Update on effects from Crawley News: http://www.crawleynews.co.uk/Pupils-limbo-school-counts-closure/story-20444665-detail/story.html
One parent said: "This is not a standard situation. I believe the Department for Education, before closing the school, should have had in place some kind of procedure for when a school closes like this."
Monday, 13 January 2014
MP tries to save Discovery New School
From The Argus: http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/10922568.Crawley_MP_in_bid_to_save_controversial_free_school/?ref=nt
"Henry Smith (MP) has called on the Department For Education to give the new management team at the Discovery New School in Crawley more time to turn the primary school around....
....'The Crawley MP raised the future of the school with education secretary Michael Gove in Parliament on Monday and has secured a meeting between himself, the school’s chair of governors Chris Cook and schools minister Lord Nash on January 14.'
"Henry Smith (MP) has called on the Department For Education to give the new management team at the Discovery New School in Crawley more time to turn the primary school around....
....'The Crawley MP raised the future of the school with education secretary Michael Gove in Parliament on Monday and has secured a meeting between himself, the school’s chair of governors Chris Cook and schools minister Lord Nash on January 14.'
Thursday, 2 January 2014
FOI: 1in 40 free school teachers are unqualified
Belfast Telegraph: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/unqualified-teacher-figure-revealed-29867538.html
"Around one in 40 teachers in mainstream free schools are unqualified, figures released to the Press Association under the Freedom of Information Act showed. But the figures varied widely from school to school, with many only hiring qualified teachers while at others more than three quarters of their teachers were unqualified."
26 of the 1,029 teachers did not hold qualified teacher status (QTS), excluding those teachers who qualified overseas and those who were trainees.
Individual cases included Trinity School in Sevenoaks, Kent, which opened in September this year, said seven of its nine teachers were unqualified. At Discovery New School in Crawley, West Sussex, which was ordered to close its doors on April 4 earlier this month (DEC), five of the school's seven teachers were unqualified, the figures showed.
"Around one in 40 teachers in mainstream free schools are unqualified, figures released to the Press Association under the Freedom of Information Act showed. But the figures varied widely from school to school, with many only hiring qualified teachers while at others more than three quarters of their teachers were unqualified."
26 of the 1,029 teachers did not hold qualified teacher status (QTS), excluding those teachers who qualified overseas and those who were trainees.
Individual cases included Trinity School in Sevenoaks, Kent, which opened in September this year, said seven of its nine teachers were unqualified. At Discovery New School in Crawley, West Sussex, which was ordered to close its doors on April 4 earlier this month (DEC), five of the school's seven teachers were unqualified, the figures showed.
Monday, 16 December 2013
Discovery Free School to close
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-25369094
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/free-school-close-michael-gove-2924512
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/dec/13/government-shuts-free-school-discovery-west-sussex
"Lord Nash said in a letter to the school's governors. "I have no confidence that the academy trust plans will enable it to recruit and retain the high-quality permanent staff and senior leadership that it needs in order to improve at a rapid pace,""
The Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2523260/Flagship-free-school-close-ALL-teachers-accused-giving-bad-lessons.html
"One of the Government’s first flagship free schools was axed yesterday after inspectors condemned its poor teaching standards. The Discovery New School in Crawley, West Sussex, was among the first free schools to open under the Coalition in 2011."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/free-school-close-michael-gove-2924512
http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/dec/13/government-shuts-free-school-discovery-west-sussex
"Lord Nash said in a letter to the school's governors. "I have no confidence that the academy trust plans will enable it to recruit and retain the high-quality permanent staff and senior leadership that it needs in order to improve at a rapid pace,""
The Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2523260/Flagship-free-school-close-ALL-teachers-accused-giving-bad-lessons.html
"One of the Government’s first flagship free schools was axed yesterday after inspectors condemned its poor teaching standards. The Discovery New School in Crawley, West Sussex, was among the first free schools to open under the Coalition in 2011."
Thursday, 12 December 2013
Consultants hired and action outlined to avert free school closure
From the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25323625
"A free school that was threatened with closure by the government has revealed it is bringing in consultants to help tackle its failings. The Discovery New School in Crawley, which has already replaced its head, has also appointed new governors since being reinspected by Ofsted. The measures are outlined in an improvement plan sent to the Department of Education."
"A free school that was threatened with closure by the government has revealed it is bringing in consultants to help tackle its failings. The Discovery New School in Crawley, which has already replaced its head, has also appointed new governors since being reinspected by Ofsted. The measures are outlined in an improvement plan sent to the Department of Education."
Monday, 2 December 2013
Crawley free school faces closure
http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/Crawley-s-Discovery-New-School-risks-closure/story-20117857-detail/story.html#axzz2mL0CmHAb
This is Sussex reports: CRAWLEY's first free school has been given 10 days to outline how it is going to improve or risk having its funding withdrawn and face closure. Discovery New School has been given the stark warning after another Ofsted report found the school is not making enough progress to be taken out of special measures.
UPDATE: Sunday Times: http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Education/article1347216.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2013_11_30
This is Sussex reports: CRAWLEY's first free school has been given 10 days to outline how it is going to improve or risk having its funding withdrawn and face closure. Discovery New School has been given the stark warning after another Ofsted report found the school is not making enough progress to be taken out of special measures.
UPDATE: Sunday Times: http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Education/article1347216.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2013_11_30
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