Ministers have refused to answer any further questions about Kings Science Academy – prompting claims that the full scandal is about to emerge.

In a statement, Education Secretary Michael Gove said further details about “financial management” at the controversial ‘free’ school could not be released.

The stance was because of the “ongoing police investigation”, Mr Gove said. The school’s principal, Sajid Hussain Raza, has been bailed on suspicion of fraud. West Yorkshire Police confirmed it had advised the Department for Education that “material should not be released which could prejudice the ongoing investigation”.

David Ward, the Bradford East MP, said he accepted the fresh police advice.

But he linked it directly to an order, by the chairman of a Commons committee, for Mr Gove to reconsider refusals to answer questions by a deadline of yesterday.