An academy backed by Prime Minister David Cameron and former Education Secretary Michael Gove faces ‘special measures.’
The BBG Academy, which has 600 students aged 11 to 15, was set up by a group of parents opposed to the closure of what was then Birkenshaw Middle School.
Kirklees Council wanted to scrap the middle school system but a bid by the Birkenshaw, Birstall and Gomersal Parents Alliance to open a new school was rejected in 2010 by Labour’s then Children’s Secretary Ed Balls.
In the run-up to the last General Election, Tory leader Mr Cameron and education spokesman Mr Gove both gave their support.
The school became an academy and moved outside council control.
Now an inspection by education watchdog Ofsted has resulted in an “inadequate” rating.
Inspectors who visited in October said it was failing to give pupils an “acceptable standard of education” and had not tackled poor behaviour by some students. It called for the school to “urgently improve” and recommended special measures.
Sharon Light, chairman of governors and wife of Kirklees Council Tory leader Robert Light, said action was already being taken.
She said the academy planned to join the Rodillian Multi-Academy Trust, which runs the Rodillian Academy, one of the best performing secondary schools in Leeds.
Senior leaders from Rodillian were already working full time at BBG and Mrs Light expected rapid improvement.
