TROUBLED North Bromsgrove High School has been placed in special measures by Ofsted.

The school was inspected on May 23 and 24 following heavy criticism from parents and students after the resignation of seven maths teachers.

Lead inspector Thomas Walton admitted in his report that "significant staff turnover has negatively affected the quality of teaching and slowed pupils’ progress".

He found leadership of the school was 'inadequate' and stated both leaders and Governors "lack the capacity to bring about the necessary improvements".

The school did not work as a cohesive team and improvement plans were "unrealistic", meaning targets were frequently not met.

There was also a lack of understanding among leaders and governors about how best to bring about the required change.

The schools' own Governors described the School Drive site as being in 'turmoil', the report found, and they also labelled the school performance as 'inadequate'.

Their damning lack of confidence in the school was shared by parents, with 'Parent View' - Ofsted's online questionnaire on the school - finding the vast majority of parents who contributed would not recommend the school to another parent.

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment; personal development behaviour and welfare; and outcomes for pupils have all been graded 'inadequate'.

Pupil behaviour was also described as "not good enough".

Mr Walton's report concluded: "In accordance with section 44(1) of the Education Act 2005, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector is of the opinion that 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 the school."

Lee Gray joined as acting head teacher on an interim basis earlier this month, after previous incumbent Angelina Robin-Jones handed in her notice to leave in June.

Following the report, Mr Gray admitted the school faces "significant challenges" and has called a parents' meeting for July 17.

In a letter to parents, he said: "The lead inspector has identified that the quality of provision across all areas is deemed to be inadequate.

"This means that the school is in Special Measures and will need to make rapid and sustained improvements in the next academic year.

"There is no doubt that the school faces a significant challenge in reversing the judgements made in the report.

"The staff and governing body are fully committed to working with you and the local authority to successfully carry out the improvements that are required.

"We believe that, with your support, the school can make the progress that is necessary.

"I look forward to working closely with all key stakeholders to ensure that future correspondence highlights the positive strides being made as a result of a community coming together to ensure that students, staff, governors and parents work closely together to support the high standards that will be needed, across all areas of school provision and life, to move towards and beyond an OFSTED grading of good."

The school was previously graded as 'good' in its last inspection.

More to follow.