HEAD teachers have vowed to get back to basics in a bid to turn round failing schools, it was revealed today.

Plans to raise standards at Queens Park High School, Blackburn and Darwen Moorland -- put into special measures by education watchdog Ofsted in February -- aim to bring about improvements within two years.

The schools were criticised for poor achievement, leadership and behaviour, and any progress was too slow, according to Her Majesty's Inspectors.

Now headteacher at Queen's Park, Ian Bott, has promised a "back to basics" approach while new headteacher at Darwen Moorland, Gareth Dawkins, has pinned his hopes on increased parent involvement.

The "rigorous" action plans have been drawn up in conjunction with the Local Education Authority and the inspectors.

They focus on raising pupils' standards of attainment, improving attendance, behaviour and attitudes to learning and enhancing teaching, learning and management of the school.

Mr Bott said: "Many of the items in the action plan are things we were already doing - such as providing mentoring for Year 11 pupils. They will continue and be strengthened and added to as necessary.

"However the HMI report clearly shows that while there are shoots of recovery, we need to be much more focused and rigorous in what we do.

"That means going right back to basics in improving reading and writing to build pupils' confidence in their own abilities because they are capable of achieving more.

"We will be reinforcing our clear standards on acceptable behaviour and asking parents to work with us on that, making sure their children attend regularly and have the right attitude to school.

Peter Morgan, director of education and lifelong learning for Blackburn with Darwen, said: "Change needs to happen and we will be working closely together to ensure it does."

At Moorland, new headteacher Gareth Dawkins said he was looking forward to starting work after the Easter break with staff, pupils and the Interim Executive Board, which is working in partnership with governors. The school has prepared a detailed action plan Staff are also being supported and developed by local education authority staff.

Mr Dawkins said future plans included involving parents and pupils and added: "The attitude of the staff is strongly optimistic and there is real commitment to working hard and working with all our partners to take the school forward."