Stantonbury International: Trust loses funds for school where pupil stabbed

Ofsted inspectors rated Stantonbury International School "inadequate" in January

An education trust has had its funding to run a school where a pupil was stabbed removed by the government.

Stantonbury International in Milton Keynes is run by Griffin Schools Trust and inspectors rate it "inadequate".

The Department for Education said the school "would improve more quickly with a stronger trust" and therefore funding would be terminated by July.

A spokeswoman for the trust said it would work with a new sponsor to "ensure a smooth transition".

In January, police were called to the school after a boy "received a small puncture wound to his back".

Ofsted inspectors visited the campus unannounced later that month and rated the school "inadequate".

Thames Valley Police officers were called to the school in January

The education watchdog's report said many pupils "feel intimidated by others' conduct" and "at times, pupils are violent towards each other".

"Leaders have not been effective in managing pupils' behaviour. It is increasingly rowdy and sometimes dangerous," it said.

The school, which has 1,626 pupils aged between 11 and 19, said it had implemented plans to tackle the issues, but inspectors found little had been done to improve the situation.

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The Academies Act 2010 states that any academy's funding agreement may be terminated by the secretary of state where special measures are required to be taken, or if it requires significant improvement.

In a letter to the trust, Baroness Elizabeth Berridge said there was "a very real risk that performance will not improve and children will not receive the education they deserve" if the trust continued operating the school.

Zoe Nolan, Labour cabinet member for children's services at Milton Keynes Council, has asked for the school to be run by the local authority.

A spokeswoman for the trust said: "We would like to assure parents that we will work together with the new sponsor yet to be proposed by the Department for Education to ensure a smooth transition for all students.

"All permanent staff will move across to the new employer, so students will continue to work with staff they know and by whom they are known."