A failing school has been placed on the Government's special measures register amid serious concerns over academic standards.

Grant maintained Thorpe Bay School in Southchurch Boulevard, Southend was singled out for urgent attention following a snap inspection three weeks ago.

The move came after education watchdog Ofsted highlighted a series of weaknesses at the school during its last inspection in October 1997.

Inspectors are permitted to make an unscheduled visit to any school where standards are said to be below an acceptable level.

Today, headteacher Graham Blois vowed to tackle the inspectors' concerns head-on with a wide-ranging programme of action.

He said: "The report from Ofsted has not been published, but when it is full details will then be assessed and an action plan developed rapidly to address the issues causing concern to inspectors.

"Staff, governors and the local education authority will now agree a joint approach to address areas of concern to ensure that the highest possible standard of educational opportunities continues to be made available to our students."

Mr Blois, who took up his job in April 1998, insisted improvements had been made since the inspection team's 1997 visit.

He stressed the school remained popular with parents - it will be oversubscribed in September for the first time in years.

He said: "This has certainly been recognised by parents who have visited the school who will have an important role to play in the improvements required.

"We will be seeking to develop stronger home-school partnerships to tackle issues such as attendance and punctuality.

"All parties concerned have every confidence that the school will continue to improve."

A spokesman for Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools - Ofsted, said: "Schools put on the special measures list fail to give pupils an acceptable level of education."

A state of the town report in May last year revealed six schools had serious weaknesses - three junior schools, one primary school and two secondary schools.

It is understood one of the senior schools was the Thorpe Bay School.

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