‘Slave auction’ school could be shut down

A TOP state school may close or be taken over by an academy trust after children allegedly chained a black pupil to a lamppost and whipped him in a ‘mock slave auction’.

The school has been given a ‘termination warning notice’ by the Government, threatening to withdraw its funding unless it improves. It has been rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted, with inspectors highlighting serious concerns about pupil safety.

Police investigated a racially aggravated incident at the Bath school in January and interviewed seven pupils. Three of the boys allegedly involved were expelled, but governors later ruled they could return to class.

The Sunday Times yesterday claimed it had received allegations about other incidents at the school. A source said a French boarding pupil had been called a ‘dirty croissant’ by a teacher.

The Department for Education issued the warning notice on July 5. Schools must put together an improvement plan after receiving a warning notice. It can be lifted if the DFE and the Regional School Commissioner are satisfied the plan is sufficiently rigorous.