A CLOSURE-threatened free school was given a glowing report just months before being panned by Ofsted, it has emerged.

Leaders fighting to save Durham Free School (DFS) today (Wednesday, January 28) released a previously confidential Department for Education (DfE) monitoring report from June which talks of a successful school, good teaching and well structured lessons and praises student behaviour.

It makes no reference, they say, to the culture of bullying, sexism, racism, homophobia claimed by Ofsted inspectors just five months later that last week prompted Education Secretary Nicky Morgan to announce her intention to axe the Christian academy’s funding.

The monitoring report has not been released in full, only excerpts issued to the media.

But chairman of governors John Denning said it undermined Ms Morgan’s comments, particularly her claim DFS had been “troubled” for some time.

“It does say work still needed to be done, but its overall tone is positive and even suggests that a good outcome at any subsequent inspection was possible,” he added.

The report was written when the school was under its now-ousted head teacher, Peter Cantley, and had around a third of its current pupil roll of 94.

A DfE spokesman said Ms Morgan stood by her previous statement that DFS had been troubled for some time and there was no imminent prospect of improvement.

Yesterday (Tuesday, January 27), North-West Durham MP Pat Glass told the House of Commons DFS had been a haven for every “crap” teacher in the North-East.

That met with a furious response from teachers, parents and pupils.

Mother Jennifer Denning said Mrs Glass’ comments were entirely baseless and demanded she apologise.

Meanwhile, Mr Denning is seeking various papers from Ofsted, the DfE and Durham County Council under the Freedom of Information Act.

Parents have until Tuesday (February 3) to convince Ms Morgan to spare their school.