A HEADTEACHER has spoken out angrily after Government Ministers confirmed the closure of her school.

A long campaign by staff, parents and pupils to save St Anthony’s Primary in Cinderford from the axe failed this week when funding was officially withdrawn, leaving around 100 pupils looking for a new school in September.

The Department for Education moved to close the school down after poor reports from schools watchdog Ofsted.

But headteacher Lorna Middleton, who was only appointed last September, says St Anthony’s has made great strides in recent months and deserves to stay open.

She posted on the school’s website: “With a heavy heart, a mixture of sadness and anger, and bursting pride over all that we have achieved together, I am keeping my promise to you all to share with you news relevant to our school’s threatened closure as soon as it arrives.

“These words will already have told you that the news is not the news we would have all yearned for it to be.

“There is some tiny recognition of the efforts we have made, for which the staff and I are grateful, but we share with all of you the enormous sense of having been let down ... very seriously let down.”

Ms Middleton, who led pupils on a march to Cinderford town centre to send letters of protest to Education Minister Lord Agnew, has previously slammed the Department for Education and Ofsted for not doing enough to help the school, which received a £750,000 upgrade to its facilities just last year.

Announcing the closure to the governors, Schools Commissioner Lisa Mannal said the school was placed in special measures for the second time last year following an Ofsted inspection, which judged it inadequate.

She claimed that plans to improve the school did not adequately show how it could be achieved.

“Whilst your internal assessment suggests predicted improved outcomes at Key Stages 1 and 2 this year, we cannot be assured of these outcomes.

“In addition, Ofsted have notified us that they have separately advised you that the Trust’s post-Ofsted statement of action was not fit for purpose.

“As you have stated in your representations, the school is running a deficit and does not have a credible plan to secure its future viability.

“The department funds schools using a national formula to ensure the basis for funding is open, fair and transparent for all schools.

“The department has to be mindful of applying the formula consistently so that all schools are funded on the same basis, therefore it is not in a position to grant your request to increase the general annual grant (GAG) for St Anthony’s school.”

She added: ”However, having considered the representations carefully, I remain satisfied that it is appropriate to terminate the Funding Agreement for St Anthony’s Free School.

“Consequently… I am issuing you with written notice to terminate the Funding Agreement on 31st August 2018.

“Having explored potential alternative sponsors, I regret to advise you that there is no sponsor with capacity to whom we could re-broker the school and therefore St Anthony’s School will close at the end of the academic year.

“I recognise that this letter will be disappointing for the pupils, parents and staff of St Anthony’s School.

“I hope that the Trustees will now work closely with officials from my office, the ESFA and Gloucestershire local authority to secure the smooth transition of pupils to new places in good local schools.”