Schools adjudicator: Close sink schools

Closing failing schools will help end social segregation, chief schools adjudicator Philip Hunter believes.

The admissions watchdog's comments in an interview with the Guardian newspaper come amid concerns from the Conservatives about the lack of school choice in many areas.

The Tories revealed up to half of parents in some areas are failing to get their children into their preferred school and Mr Hunter believes such areas would benefit from school closures.

"Everybody knows that if you've got 30 per cent or more who are difficult to teach, the school won't have the necessary levels of expectation," he said.

"What is unacceptable is when, in a small area, you have four schools with under ten per cent on free meals and one with 50 per cent.

"First, you close that school with 50 per cent on free meals, and disperse the children. That's a solution which, I've got to say, isn't used enough."