The chairman of governors at a primary school has condemned Government inspectors who claim their school is failing.

Ofsted inspectors visited Headington Quarry CE First School in Quarry View Place, Oxford, in February and ruled that the school "had many more weaknesses than strengths".

But staff are so outraged by the decision that chairman of governors Mike Stranks has written to Chief Inspector of Schools Chris Woodhead to complain.

The report concluded: "Although the school does some things well, it is failing to provide an acceptable standard of education for its pupils. Special measures are required in relation to this school." Ofsted inspectors will now visit the school each term during the next two years.

If improvements are not made, the 150-year-old school, run by the LEA and backed by the Oxford Diocese, could theoretically be forced to close.

But governors, staff and parents at the school are determined this will not happen.

Mr Stranks said: "We are all stunned by this report, which we don't feel is accurate.

"We thought the inspectors would identify a number of problem areas but we never dreamed they would assess us as a failing school."

Headteache Kate Rule added: "We have concerns about the way the inspection was carried out"

She believed the school had made progress since its last Ofsted report four years ago, which made her even more puzzled by the inspectors' verdict. There are 85 full-time pupils, aged five to nine, at the school. Classes contain an average of 27.5 pupils.

Chairman of the Parent Teachers' Association, Mandy Edney, 35, whose two children attend the school, said the majority of parents were "stunned" by the inspectors' findings.

She added: "I am delighted by the progress of my children. This is a lovely, happy school and I know other parents feel the same way."

The Oxford Diocese's schools adviser, the Rev David Barton, said he was dismayed by the Ofsted inspectors' report.

He said: "The Diocese's own inspection of the collective worship and the spiritual and moral life of the school was positive

Story date: Thursday 22 April

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.