Last updated 10:30, Friday, 03 October 2008

A CALL has gone out for parents to support Oughterside Primary School near Aspatria after it was placed in special measures.

It was revealed last week that the school had failed its latest Ofsted inspection and was placed under special measures.

A meeting to discuss a plan for improvements was held with parents last Wednesday involving school improvement officers from Cumbria County Council, staff and governors.

A council spokesman said parents were being invited to join the governing body to help reverse the school’s fortunes.

Ofsted inspectors said the school, whose 63 pupils are aged between four and 11, was failing after it uncovered health and safety issues. These included children not being met from the bus and a failure to complete paperwork for Criminal Records Bureau checks.

Immediate action has been taken to rectify the most serious issues and Cumbria County Council is submitting an action plan to Ofsted setting out how it intends to support the school.

A county council spokesman said: “As part of our statement of action we’ve said we will appoint additional governors to strengthen the current body.

“We would like to have more parents on the governing body.”