Independent school for troubled children closes

Re-Entry had four centres in Wolverhampton working with children who were not in mainstream schools, including those who had been excluded.

The education provider aimed to get the youngsters, some from troubled backgrounds, back on the right path and to prevent them from becoming involved in gangs and crime. It has been based in the city for around two decades.

The reason for the closure is unclear though Wolverhampton Council's education boss Michael Hardacre said he had "been led to believe they have been in some difficulty".

Re-Entry was given the second-lowest rating of "requires improvement" by Ofsted at its latest inspection, which only took place in April. At the time of the inspection it had 21 pupils aged between five and 16.

The education watchdog raised several concerns and said "teaching does not consistently challenge pupils, particularly the most able, to do well", that "pupils struggle to work independently as they are overly reliant on teachers' help" and that "leaders' improvement plans are not detailed enough to clearly focus on weaknesses".

The city council does not run the centre but said it had worked with other providers and schools to ensure children affected had been placed elsewhere.

A spokesman said: "We are aware of the closure of Re-Entry and have worked with alternative providers and schools to ensure that all pupils are placed in appropriate settings.”

The Department for Education said it had been informed by Re-Entry of the closure and that the local authority had been made aware of children who needed new placements.

Re-Entry operated centres in All Saints, Bilston, Low Hill and Park Village. Its website said it provided "basic and life skills, support in managing and amending behaviour, development of social skills, one-to-one mentoring, support on return to school, college or workplace and developing close links with families and other carers".

The closure of the service comes amid heightened concerns about the impact of excluding children from schools.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson is among those who have spoken of fears that schools are giving up too easily on children who once excluded are then at risk of being drawn into gangs and crime.