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    Gove finally takes his place............

    Pressure on Government as flagship free school forced to close after inspectors find pupils 'in danger of leaving without being able to read and write properly'

    Funding withdrawn for Discovery New School in Crawley after it failed to show evidence it could improve

    The Government has been forced to close one of its flagship free schools after inspectors warned that "too many pupils are in danger of leaving the school without being able to read and write properly."

    Schools Minister Lord Nash, who is responsible for academies and free schools, announced he was withdrawing funding from the Discovery New School in Crawley, West Sussex, after it had failed to show sufficient evidence it could improve following the inspection.

    He gave governors 10 days to come up with an action plan to turn the school round at the end of November but in a letter to the school yesterday said there had been "little or no improvement" in standards since the first inspection.

    "I recognise that my decision to terminate the FA [funding agreement] is likely to be disappointing for pupils, parents and all those involved with the school but I will not allowing a failing school to continue with no clear, workable plan to improve rapidly," he added.

    "It is not in the best interests of pupils to remain in an adequate school."

    The decision comes at the end of a week of growing pressure on Education Secretary Michael Gove over his free schools programme. On Wednesday, public spending watchdogs the National Audit Office warned it was now costing - at £6.6million per school - twice the Government's original estimate to set up the schools. In addition, half the areas in the country with the greatest need for extra primary school places had not had a single application for a new school.

    Labour's Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt said last night: "The closure of this free school is yet another shocking example of why David Cameron's flagship schools policy is failing."

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