THE demise of the short-lived Durham Free School has plunged 90 North-East families into uncertainty.

The decision by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan to pull the financial plugs on the Durham City school after a damning Ofsted report means that around 90 11-to-13 year-olds will need to find a new secondary school.

This may mean parents having to accept a place at a local school which they have previously rejected.

But Durham County Council, which still controls most state secondary schools in the area, is keen to stress that there are spare places going begging at schools which are all rated - at the very least - as “good” by Ofsted.

The top-rated state secondary in the area is Durham Johnston – described as “outstanding by Ofsted - but places are at a premium at this very popular school.

As a Christian ethos attracted some of parents to send their children to the ill-fated free school some might be considering St Leonard’s Catholic School, another Durham City secondary rated as “good” by Ofsted but the website states that the voluntary aided school, which allows non-Catholic pupils to attend if they share the same ethos, is “presently oversubscribed.”

It is more likely that parents who contact Durham County Council’s schools admissions team will be offered places at four other secondary schools, depending on how close the families live.

For pupils who live closer to Durham City the obvious candidates is Belmont Community School, probably the closest school to Durham Free School and rated as “good” by Ofsted.

Belmont School’s website state that the 11-16 school is “improving rapidly.” The proportion of students achieving five A*-C grade GCSEs including English and maths in 2013 was 66 per cent.

Another neighbour of Durham Free School is Framwellgate School, also rated as “good” by Ofsted with significant “outstanding” features.

The website states that the schools 2013 exam results “were exceptional” – with 70 per cent getting five good GCSEs including English and maths.

Families that live closer to Spennymoor are likely to be offered places at the recently refurbished Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form College, which is also rated as “good” by Ofsted and where 51 per cent of eligible students got five good GCSEs with English and maths in 2013.

Parents who live closer to Sedgefield Community College can be reassured that it is also rated as “good” by Ofsted and it is where 78 per cent of students got five good GCSEs in 2013.

Cabinet member for children and young people, Cllr Ossie Johnson, said: “We want to ensure that every young person in County Durham gets the best possible start in life, which includes having access to the highest standards of education.

“Whilst we have had no involvement with the management of, or teaching standards at, the Free School, we are extremely disappointed for both the pupils and their families, that it has been judged to be inadequate by Ofsted.

“In response to the Government’s subsequent decision to cease funding this Free School we can confirm that places are available in secondary schools rated as ‘good’ for all students effected.

“We would ask parents to contact the admissions team on 03000 265 896.”