A Bradford school claims it is no longer failing but cannot escape the stigma because of the on-going school review.

Holmefield First School, in Holme Wood, has been told by Government inspectors that it would not be regarded as a failing school but for two problems.

The first of these is that the school has a consultant head and deputy head, brought in to turn the school around.

HMI inspectors insist on failing schools appointing permanent heads and deputies before they take them out of so-called "special measures", under which a school is placed when it is badly under-performing.

Consultant head Christine Harrison said the education authority was stalling on making the appointments because of the school review.

The second obstacle is the school's budget deficit which again is affected by the outcome of the school review

Mrs Harrison fears Holmefield could be closed under the school review because it was still seen as a failing school.

"We are caught in a situation where the LEA cannot make a decision about the heads and the school because of the review, but the decisions of the review may be based on the fact that we are still in special measures - catch 22," she said.

Holmefield failed its Ofsted inspection in 1996 and is still listed as one of six failing schools in Bradford. Two later inspections have identified massive improvements in the school.

After an inspection early this month inspectors said: "There are two weaknesses but it is recognised that these are beyond the control of the school. Except for these two the school would not be in special measures now."

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