Southwark Free School set to close
The Guardian reports that Southwark Free School will become the sixth free school to close since the initiative was launched in 2010.
After receiving support from Michael Gove and Boris Johnson against local opposition, the school attracted only 60 pupils since it opened in 2012.
Parents of pupils have been told the school is expected to close by mid February.
Victoria Mills, Southwark council’s cabinet member for children and schools, told the Guardian: “The government must learn lessons from this free school failure. New schools need community support and to be located where there is a demand for places, and should be run by outstanding and established educational providers.
“With no option to open our own schools, the council will continue to be pragmatic in our approach to free schools. We will work with providers who share our commitment to get the very best for Southwark children and want to deliver schools where there is demand for places.”
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