Cost of failed Luton free school project '˜to be published'

Luton Girls’ Academy was given the green light by the government but never opened and in January 2015 the project was axed due to ‘insignificant progress’.

Though the Department for Education gave the school’s backers, Ace Trust Ltd, two payments of £90,000 it is not yet known how much was spent or the sum the DfE has managed to recover.

On Monday Luton South MP Gavin Shuker pressed Ms Morgan for an answer on the ‘wasted’ funds.

The Education Secretary told the House of Commons: “Total pre-opening revenue costs for Luton Girls’ Academy will be published by the end of March.

“In line with our transparency agenda, our policy is to publish expenditure data clearly, and that means that we publish the full pre-opening revenue cost of cancelled or withdrawn free school projects, once the amount of expenditure has been finalised and taking into account any repayments. “