Primary school fails Ofsted inspection

The report of the inspection, published today, will show the school is failing or likely to fail to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education.

Under the 1996 School Inspections Act, that leaves the staff and pupils of the school to be monitored until Her Majesty's Inspectorate can see substantial improvement.

Chair of governors, Chris Miles, made a statement to the Observer. He said: "The Governors, headteacher and staff are devastated at OfSTED's findings that St Peter and St Paul requires Special Measures. However, they will work together with the Local Education Authority, as they always have, and with Her Majesty's Inspectorate to address the issues highlighted.

"The Governors, headteacher and staff will produce a School Improvement Action Plan, which will have to be approved by Her Majesty's Inspectorate. This plan, which they have already begun, is aimed at fulfilling all the recommendations as quickly as possible.

"The LEA, through its advisers, will work alongside the school in achieving its goals and will provide additional resources to do so.

"The Right Reverend Wallace Benn, Bishop of Lewes, said this week "I have complete confidence in the headteacher and the leadership in the school to put whatever needs to be done in place very quickly. I am sure the good reputation of the school locally will go from strength to strength."

The report, which was made available to the school last week but only made public today, will highlight where the school falls below expectations.

Comments could range from low pupil attainment to a high proportion of unsatisfactory teaching, breakdown of discipline in classes to high levels of exclusions or truancy, and ineffectiveness of headteacher, senior management or governors to poor management of resources.

Before the school is removed from Special Measures, it will need to show improvement in key areas on the action plan and a capacity to secure further improvement.