Two secondary schools could be closed by the government and reopened under new bosses after damning Ofsted inspections pushed them both into special measures.

Chatham and Clarendon Grammar in Ramsgate and Sandwich Technology School were rated inadequate in March and May respectively and have now been issued “termination warning notices”.

Both are currently run by single-academy trusts - but the notices state each could now be shut down and transferred to a multi-academy trust.

In total, the changes would impact more than 2,700 pupils.

Writing to parents, Sandwich Tech head teacher Tracey Savage confirmed they had received the termination warning notice.

She explained: “This means that the school has been notified the Department for Education (DfE) is considering closing the school and re-opening it under a multi-academy trust as, effectively, a new school.”

At Sandwich Tech’s inspection in May, Ofsted noted "bullying and fighting are commonplace" and pupils are “not adequately prepared for life in modern Britain”.

"Attendance is low, there are high levels of in-school truancy [and] lessons are often disrupted,” the report said.

"This unacceptable behaviour persists and has left some pupils fearful. As a result, many have a fragmented experience of education.”

The inspectors said the “chaotic environment” left some youngsters feeling unsafe.

They added: "Pupils, many of whom are disadvantaged or have additional vulnerabilities, are at increased risk of exposure to local risks such as gang activity and exploitation."

But Ms Savage labelled Ofsted’s report "narrow, disproportionate" and "unjustified". She later announced she would be stepping down in January.

Both education providers can make representations to Ofsted as to why they think they should be allowed to stay open as they are.

In its defence, Sandwich Tech, which caters for 1,300 pupils, has promoted its ‘Post-Ofsted Action Plan’ – information about the various external agencies it is working with to improve – and changes it is making to the school leadership structure and governance and safeguarding policies.

Ms Savage added: “We hope this will assure the DfE that the school governors and leaders are taking our current position seriously and that our voice should be heard when the future of the school is considered.

“However, I want to be honest with you as parents and state that I still believe that the most likely outcome is that we will be compelled to join a multi-academy trust.”

Ms Savage added that “with forced academisation such as this”, the right for a parental consultation is removed.

Sandwich councillor Dan Friend (Con) says he recognises the “significant concerns” of the recent Ofsted report but is confident the school will “thrive once again.”

He told KentOnline: “This is an important educational institution for our community, and while the recent Ofsted report highlights significant concerns, I believe it’s crucial to acknowledge the value the school continues to provide to families in Sandwich and beyond.

“The staff, students and parents are passionate about the school, and I am confident that with the right support and leadership, Sandwich Tech can overcome these challenges and thrive once again.”

He added: “The school is an asset to our area, and its success is vital to the community.”

Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School, which has 1,427 pupils, was issued with its termination warning notice on October 18.

Its inspection in March highlighted issues with students being taught in single-sex classrooms, with Ofsted calling it “unlawful discrimination”.

But head teacher Debra Liddicoat said the findings were “inconsistent, unfounded and show a lack of understanding”.

The notice sets out the main concerns the DfE’s regional director for the south east, Dame Kate Dethridge, has about Chatham and Clarendon.

She says the school’s centralised record of pre-employment checks conducted on staff to ensure they are suitable for working with children “is not compliant and has not been for some years”.

She states: “There is weak oversight of safeguarding through safer recruitment procedures.

“There are gaps in the checks that should have been carried out when recruiting staff. This puts pupils at risk.

“The school is not aware of its statutory duties. This means that it does not know if it is acting legally, for example in respect of the Equality Act 2010.”

Dame Kate says some groups of pupils have poor attendance and the school - which is based across three sites in Ramsgate - has not done enough to address this.

“This affects the progress that these pupils make through the planned curriculum,” she writes.

“In the sixth form, this may also put students at risk, as it is not clear who is on which site at any time.

“If I am not satisfied rapid and sustainable improvement can be achieved, I will consider whether to terminate the funding agreement in order to transfer the academy to an alternative academy trust.”

A spokesman for Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School said: “As we let our parents know when our Ofsted report was published, a grade like ours triggers what is known as a termination warning notice.

“This may sound like an unnerving title, but it is a letter that all academies in our situation receive.

“This letter also triggered the next stage of the formal process.”

The school has now submitted an “action plan”, which it is working through “systematically and robustly”.

However, the spokesman confirmed it “retains its concerns about Ofsted’s approach”.

He added: “We have had an external review of safeguarding, which we are pleased to say was very positive.

“In all areas, we can evidence that we are moving forward with pace and purpose.”

What happens when a school gets a ‘termination warning notice’?

Schools in the UK can either be state-run - meaning they are under the control of the local authority - academy-run or privately run.

Academies are not-for-profit trusts and receive the same funding from central government as state-run schools.

Most trusts are multi-academy (MAT), meaning simply that they are in charge of multiple schools. However, some - such as Sandwich Tech and Chatham and Clarendon Grammar - are single with only one on the books.

The government’s aim is for every school to be part of a strong multi-academy trust by 2030.

If a school is rated inadequate by Ofsted, it can be forced to join a new MAT.

To begin this process, the school’s current trust will receive a ‘termination warning notice’, which sets out the regional director’s concerns and gives the trust the opportunity to respond.

If the regional director is not convinced the trust can improve the school, they will go ahead and transfer the school to a different trust to make sure of the best outcome for pupils.