A furious parent has claimed Government inspectors had blacklisted her children - because they were brought up in a council house.

The Ofsted report into Eastwood Junior School in Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, praises staff and pupils' willingness to learn - but also stresses that many of its pupils have problems at home.

Parent Irene Barke from Surrey Road, Leigh, is fuming over a statement which, she believes, implies children from council houses have troubled backgrounds.

The Ofsted summary states: "Pupils come from an area which contains a high proportion of council-owned properties. The unemployment rate is high and a significant number of pupils come from an unsettled background.

"When pupils start at the school, their attainment is well below average for their age."

Ms Barke, whose 10-year-old daughter Julie attends the school, said: "If this statement is to be believed, it appears that only people with a mortgage and a job have any social standing and intelligence. I find this extremely hard to accept."

The 35-year-old mum wrote a scathing letter to Ofsted, claiming they were branding her daughter, and 12-year-old son, John, a failure.

She said: "Does the fact that I live in a council property mean that my children and I are of a lower social standing?

"Does it also mean that if you are unemployed or have had an unsettled background that you are of a lower intellect than people who are in other forms of employment?"

Ms Barkeadded: "The staff at the school do an excellent job. It is just this Government report which I, and other parents, are complaining about."

An Ofsted spokeswoman said: "Living in a council property does not necessarily mean that you come from a troubled background.

"However, our inspectors are well-trained and have to take any socio-economic factors into consideration when assessing a school's success.

"We therefore have to comment on pupils' backgrounds and economic circumstances."

The Ofsted report included many positive comments about the school and said it cared for its pupils, making them feel secure and ready to learn.

Angry - Mum Irene Barke and her daughter Julie

Picture: CHRIS WEEKS

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