£4.2m free school shuts

A £4.2MILLION free school labelled inadequate is closing after 16 months.

Ofsted identified a string of teaching and safeguarding concerns at Plymouth Studio School.

The Department for Education yesterday agreed “in principle” to shut it, at the request of the trust that runs it.

Parents raised concerns soon after the school opened officially in 2016.

Headteacher Mark Cahill said: “My staff will work… to ensure a smooth transition for all pupils.”