COUNCILLORS are set to call education bosses to account after a bitter row broke out following the sudden close of a Blackburn special school.

Pupils from Fernhurst School, Heys Lane, Blackburn, were sent home because of safety concerns over a stairwell and staircase.

But teaching unions have claimed that issue is a cover for deeper problems at the school, which has 48 pupils suffering from emotional of behavioural problems.

Parents have been told to expect house calls from teachers for the next two weeks while preparations are made to send the youngsters, aged 11 to 18, to other special schools.

Opposition councillors are demanding to know what is going on at the school.

Coun Kevin Connor, the Lib Dem chairman of Blackburn with Darwen Council's Children and Lifelong Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said: "We already have a meeting scheduled for next week and I have arranged for this to be the first item on the agenda.

"I understand there will be a briefing for councillors before then but I think there are a lot of questions to be answered."

Tory councillor John Williams, who sits on the committee and is a former teacher himself, added: "There is a lot that doesn't seem right about this and bringing it up at the meeting will give us the chance to get to the bottom of what is going on."

Lesley Ham, from the NASUWT teaching union, today said a catalogue of reasons had led to the decision including staff being threatened and physically assaulted by pupils - some so seriously that they required hospital treatment.

She also alleged staff would be left to deal with violent pupils in their own homes.

But a spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Council denied the allegations and said: "The local education authority is supporting the school in ensuring that all pupils receive an appropriate education.

"Fernhurst is a school for pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties, which is reflected both in the salary structure and the pupil/staff ratio.

"At Fernhurst, there are 48 pupils on roll, 16 teachers and 13 teaching assistants.

"If all pupils were in attendance this would be a ratio of less than one adult to two pupils. In addition, some of the 48 pupils receive alternative work-related provision off site.

"No member of staff has been required to visit a pupil at home on their own. The standard home tuition protocol requires that a parent is always present when home tuition is delivered.

"In addition, Fernhurst staff were advised that if they had any concerns they could team teach.

"Pupils who are moving to different school bases are being accompanied by both teaching and non-teaching staff."