A primary school which was re-inspected after querying its Ofsted report has now been condemned as failing.
Whetley Primary School in Girlington achieved a "satisfactory" rating in the first inspection. But school leaders were unhappy with the report, saying it did not reflect their school accurately.
It was re-inspected this term. And this time inspectors placed the school in Special Measures - the seventh Bradford school to be placed in this category so far this year.
The primary chalked up the lowest results in the district in tests for 11-year-olds last summer, leaving it propping up the Bradford schools league table.
And the governing body has had a battle with Bradford Council over the size of the school, which the Council has insisted on increasing from two forms of entry to three. Governors had tried to resist it, saying their priority was trying to raise standards for the youngsters they already had.
In a letter to parents, Martin Taylor, chairman of governors, said: "The inspection came at the end of a very troubled period for the school. The difficulties over school reorganisation - which left us with a larger school, but very inadequate buildings, and uncertainty over the size of the school - have put very real strains on all of us, parents, staff, children and governors."
He told the Telegraph & Argus: "It's very demoralising for the school to be told we are in Special Measures when we'd already recognised standards needed to be a lot better. The inspection came at a time when the school was at a low ebb."
He said the school had no argument with the second inspection, carried out by "highly competent" representatives from Her Majesty's Inspectorate.
"Inspectors did say the school has the potential for rapid improvement, and we all feel that and now have to deliver it," Dr Taylor said.
He added: "One advantage of Special Measures is that the LEA now has to help address the difficulties the school has been in."
A spokesman for Education Bradford said: "We have supported the head and deputy head of Whetley Primary School through the inspection process and are continuing to work with them. We are currently working with the head and governors to draw up an action plan on how to help the school come out of Special Measures even though the Ofsted report has yet to be published.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article