THE ACADEMY Trust behind Herefordshire's first vocational free school are set to officially launch an evaluation report into the concept.

Opened in 2013, the Robert Owen Academy in Blackfriars Street offered a different style of learning to traditional secondary schools, delivering a vocational curriculum alongside core GCSE qualifications.

But the school was hit with criticism from Ofsted inspectors, who placed the school into special measures.

RELATED NEWS: Staff and students' bitter farewell

And despite a later report noting that effective action towards the removal of special measures was being taken, the school was eventually told by the government that it must permanently close in 2018.

The launch, named 'The Robert Owen Academy, an innovative school ahead of its time', will be held 4pm on May 23 at Grange Court, Leominster.

For more information or to reserve a seat, contact roat@robertowen.org by May 13.