THE UNDER-FIRE head teacher of a Feltham primary school has pledged to raise standards after being savaged by education watchdog Ofsted.
Inspectors who visited Edward Pauling School, in Redford Close, two months ago were so worried by what they saw that they have decided to place it in special measures.
In a report published on Tuesday, lead inspector Sarah McDermott wrote: "Her Majesty's Chief Inspector is of the opinion that this school requires special measures because it is failing to give pupils an acceptable standard of education and the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement."
Particular areas of concern included 'exceptionally low' standards in English and maths among pupils leaving the school and teachers failing to step in quickly enough to help struggling youngsters.
Head teacher Gabrielle Quinnen described the report as 'deeply disappointing'.
"We are determined to continue striving to raise standards further," she said.
"We already knew the areas we had to focus on, and this makes us all the more determined to get to where we want to be."
Both the school and the council rubbished suggestions included in the report that leadership and management at the school were not adequate to make the necessary improvements.
Hounslow's education chief Cllr Paul Lynch said there were more pupils with learning disabilities or difficulties at Edward Pauling than most other schools.
"I am convinced that the school is doing a good job with these children and, with some support from us, are more than capable of getting through this," he said.
The 375-pupil school, which opened in September 1995, has been acting on the inspectors' recommendations since their visit.
Officers from Hounslow's children's services department will now work with staff at Edward Pauling to try to improve the situation.
Under 'special measures' they have 10 days to submit an action plan to Ofsted and must then wait for another inspection within the next six months.
The report is available on the Ofsted website www.ofsted.gov.uk and governors are available to discuss the situation with concerned parents.
