A CHRISTIAN free school is to be closed at Easter, the Department for Education announced tonight (Wednesday, February 25).

Durham Free School (DFS) has been facing the axe since Education Secretary Nicky Morgan announced she intended to withdraw its funding, back in January.

Ofsted had published a damning inspection report and accused school leaders of tolerating racism, sexism and homophobia.

The school, parents and children mounted a passionate campaign to save the academy, which is only 18 months old.

However, Ms Morgan tonight said she had carefully considered all the issues and representations and decided to proceed with the closure.

Funding will cease on Friday, March 27 – the last school day before the Easter holidays.

“The Department for Education operates on the basis that the interests of children must come first and it is clear that the school is not delivering the high standard of education that parents and I expect,” the minister said.

“It is also clear that there is no imminent prospect of improvement and I am not prepared to let any child remain in a failing school.

“While I know this decision will mean some upheaval for those pupils still in attendance, I am confident that it is the right thing to do.

“We are already working with the local authority to ensure every child is found a suitable place at another local school.”

John Denning, chairman of governors at DFS, said his priority was informing parents of the announcement.

However, he confirmed the DFS Trust was consulting its lawyers and The Northern Echo understands the school has been approached by well-wishers who want it to be able to pursue a judicial review of the decision, challenging the process and outcome in court.

The Love Durham Free campaign tweeted: “It isn’t over yet... These people have guts and the fight goes on. There’s something very off about all this.”

Schools minister Lord Nash has refused to visit DFS, but parents had hoped to meet the Education Secretary when she visits Newcastle on Friday (February 27).