A damning Ofsted report which prompted the Government to place a Westcliff school on special measures has revealed a catalogue of serious failings.

A report by Ofsted inspectors who visited the Prittlewell Technology College in May, said standards at the Prittlewell Chase school are "well below average".

The report, which has been sent to the parents of the school's 931 children, said too much of the teaching was "dull and lacklustre".

Inspectors also criticised behaviour, saying they had witnessed fights and "unpleasant harassment and mockery of weaker and more vulnerable students and some members of staff".

The report said the quality of leadership, teaching, governance and financial management were all "unsatisfactory".

National Curriculum tests taken at the end of year nine produced results well below the national average at the school which won technology status in 2002 and Investor in People status in 2003.

Sally Carr, executive councillor for education and lifelong learning said she had every faith in acting headteacher Denise Allen who replaced Maggie Sanders.

Mrs Carr said: "We want to get this school out of special measures extremely quickly. The LEA can only advise until the Ofsted report is published. We can't really act until then."

No one from the school was available to comment.

Published Thursday September 2, 2004

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