A FAILING primary school has vowed to take on the challenge to improve after Ofsted inspectors put it into special measures.

Tophill Junior School on Portland was described as 'ineffective' following an inspection in July.

Staff, governors and even parents were criticised in the latest report about the school for around 300 pupils.

Despite some improvements, the inspectors say the school was not making fast enough progress since the last Ofsted inspection six years ago.

In the report the inspectors said: "This school is ineffective, it is failing to provide satisfactory education to its pupils and, consequently, standards are below average, and well below in Year 6.

Many pupils make satisfactory progress but overall achievement in years three and six is unsatisfactory."

However, the inspectors pointed out that there had been some good improvements to the school and that staffing, management and financial difficulties had been overcome.

The report stated: "Many of the actions taken by the headteacher and her team have resulted in good improvement, but they have been diverted from the central agenda of the school because of staffing and budget management difficulties that have slowed down progress."

Headteacher April Walker-Bambury, who took over at the school in 2002, pointed out that much of the improvements had happened since her appointment.

Mrs Walker-Bambury said: "We will not be disheartened by Ofsted's decision. Obviously, we are very disappointed that this has happened, but we are working closely with the local education authority to address the issues identified for improvement.

"It makes us even more determined to tackle the issues head-on and to ensure that the school is removed from special measures as soon as possible."

She added: "We are all committed to making sure that our children will receive the very best provision."

Under special measures the school is obliged to work with the LEA on an action plan based on the report and it will be inspected about once a term.

Head of school improvement, Harry Turner, said that the LEA shared Tophill's disappointment at the report and promised to support the school.

David Goddard, Dorset's director of education, will meet parents, staff and governors tomorrow to discuss the report.

Although parents were generally supportive of the school, the inspectors reported that a minority was 'unfairly critical, particularly of the management of behaviour and of the school's involvement with the community, which are good'.

"This is damaging to the efforts being made by the school," inspectors wrote. Pupils generally enjoy school and respond well to what the school offers. Many are involved in the wide range of enriching extra-curricular activities and look forward to the events the school organises."

Mac Scard, chairman of governors, said: "We have every confidence in the headteacher leading the school through these challenging times, and know that the school community will come through stronger and more determined than ever before."