A SCHOOL was threatened with losing its academy status following a damning Ofsted report, we can reveal.

The King John School, in Thundersley, dropped from outstanding to inadequate in its latest report, published in April.

Following the report, which raised major concerns over safeguarding and the ability of leaders, the Department of Education sent a letter to the school insisting it needs to be “satisfied that the academy can achieve rapid and sustained improvement”.

The school was ordered to provide an updated action plan, as well as an update on the progress of pupils and an update on the action being taken to improve safeguarding.

It remains unclear what action has been taken after The King John School failed to respond to the Echo’s request for comment.

The Zenith Multi Academy Trust, responsible for The King John School and a number of others in the area, failed to respond with a comment too. The department for education confirmed discussions are ongoing.

A spokesman said: “The regional schools commissioner is continuing to work closely with the school and the trust to resolve concerns highlighted by Ofsted.”

The letter was sent in May following the report, but only published online by the department for education last week.

The letter, sent by Sue Baldwin, the regional schools commissioner for East of England and North East London, said: “In accordance with section 2A of the Academies Act 2010 any funding agreement of an academy may be terminated by the Secretary of State where special measures are required to be taken by the academy or the academy requires significant improvement and the Chief Inspector of Ofsted has given notice of that.

“I received an Ofsted notification dated April 3, 2019, confirming The King John School was judged to be inadequate and requires significant improvement. As regional schools commissioner, I must be satisfied the academy can achieve rapid and sustained improvement. If I am not satisfied I will consider a notice of termination.”

Following the report, the school insisted an external review of governance would carried out in addition to a full review of school leadership.