Fresh Start programme

[4] The programme aims to improve underperforming schools in inner cities by reopening them with renovated buildings and new names, curricula, staff and leadership (a "fresh start").

[18][19][20] To qualify for a fresh start, a school originally needed below 15% of its students to pass five GCSE exams for three years in a row.

[15] Fresh Start schools are expected to improve within a year of reopening and are rigorously scrutinised by inspectors until they attain acceptable standards.

[25] The school's new headteacher Torsten Friedag earned an exceptional salary of £70,000 and was named Britain's first "super head".

[27][28][29] After the resignation of three Fresh Start super heads in March 2000, Education Secretary David Blunkett began contemplating changes to the programme.

[24] Scepticism around the programme began to grow after the third super head was found to have resigned because of a failed attempt to hide a critical letter from her school.

[33] City academies were supported by Torsten Friedag, one of the Fresh Start super heads who resigned.

Firfield had experienced a deficit of £200,000 due to low student numbers and had suffered from a loss of reputation and morale after a Channel 4 documentary exposed failures within the school.

[34][6] Plans for Firfield's closure were announced by Newcastle City Council and a consultation process with parents began.

[9] By December 2000 the fourth super head had resigned and another Fresh Start school was set for closure.