'School from hell' is failing again

A comprehensive once branded "the school from hell" is facing closure unless standards improve.

The Ridings School in Halifax, West Yorkshire, became infamous in 1996 when 60 "unteachable" pupils forced it to shut down temporarily.

A new Ofsted report has now put the school on "special measures", officially classed as failing and rated as "inadequate".

The report said: "This school requires special measures because it is failing to give its 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."

In 2003 the mixed community comprehensive school, which has more than 500 pupils aged 11-18, won praise from ministers for transforming GCSE results. But in 2005 inspectors once again criticised the school, giving it "notice to improve".

The new report said: "Despite making some progress, the school has not been able to significantly improve learners' achievement or well-being: two of its essential responsibilities."

Personal development, standards and achievement, and the overall quality of teaching and learning were all classed as "inadequate".

Headteacher Stuart Todd and his leadership team were praised as "able and energetic" but some staff were criticised for not supporting improvement strategies.

Calderdale Council said it will continue to support the headteacher and his senior management team.

The council said it will ask Education Secretary Alan Johnson for permission to replace the school's existing governors with an interim governing body, including a senior council officer and senior managers from local businesses, higher education and parent and community representatives.