Two more Steiner free schools issued with termination notices
Steiner Academy Bristol and Steiner Academy Frome have been issued with termination warning notices by the regional schools commissioner for the south west of England.
The schools were placed in special measures following unannounced Ofsted inspections last November.
Three of the four state-funded Steiner free schools in England are now rated inadequate after Steiner Academy Exeter was placed in special measures in October.
Inspectors warned safeguarding at th schools was “not effective” and that tsaff at the Steiner Academy Bristol used physical intervention “unnecessarily” .
Education secretary Damian Hinds granted Ofsted special powers to inspect all Steiner schools in England, including 21 private schools, were granted after chief inspector of schools Amanda Spielman reported “deeply concerning” findings.
Spielman has also asked for an investigation into whether the Steiner 'philosophy' is contributing to the failures. Hinds is yet to authorise such a probe.
Ofsted inspectors found that leaders had an “over-generous view of the school’s effectiveness”.
Governors at the academy are currently raising money to launch a judicial review against Ofsted.
Read moreLatest News
04/11/2025 - 09:55
The policy introduces the new Chief Regulator’s Rebuke - a new tool which can be used when an awarding organisation is found to have breached rules, but not in a way that warrants a financial penalty.
03/11/2025 - 10:04
The government has launched a new campaign supported by Sport England that aims to help parents discover simple ways to build movement into daily life during the winter months.
03/11/2025 - 09:55
Nearly eight in ten UK teachers have had to rethink how they set assignments because of Artificial Intelligence (AI), according to a new British Council survey.
31/10/2025 - 10:12
A growing number of UK children are now eligible for Free School Meals (FSM), yet most still aren’t taking advantage of them on a daily basis, new research reveals.
30/10/2025 - 01:28
In the wake of the Raac crisis, the DfE spent £5 million on research into the condition of school buildings, which is due to conclude in spring 2026.
