THE chairman of governors at failing Darwen Moorland High School admitted today: "We've let the children down."

John Jacklin, was speaking as it was revealed that 20 governors had been suspended from their roles running the school by Blackburn with Darwen LEA after it was put in special measures.

The move came after a report from schools inspectors OfSTED criticised the governors for being "ineffective" and gave the school two years to improve.

The LEA now plan to put in place an Interim Executive Board (IEB) -- which will be responsible for applying clear direction to the school's recovery and rigorously monitor its progress.

Mr Jacklin, an accountant, said the govenors were in full support of the teaching staff but that the school had suffered from staffing problems with a 48 per cent turnover in staff in the past four years.

The school's latest OfSTED report also made reference to the "challenging and disruptive behaviour" of pupils.

Mr Jacklin said he was confident the governors would be given back control of the school in the future and added: "I think these issues have existed for some time and finally someone has decided to address them. It can do nothing but good.

"The school needs support. Everyone needs to pull together now -- parents, children, teachers, the LEA and the governing body."

He added: "We have let the children down as a school. We have to bear our share of the responsibility."

Speaking about the issues of problem pupils, Mr Jacklin added: "All schools have difficult children -- we do.

"Some teachers can cope with them and some have difficulty coping with them.

"If we are not controlling the children then the children are not being properly taught."

Mr Jacklin said that in his 16 years as governor the school had had its "ups and downs" but that he had never known the school to reach such a critical stage.

He added: "The governors have been very dignified about the news although it did come as a little bit of a suprise. It was indicated that no drastic action was being envisaged three weeks ago

"I think the LEA probably dwelt on it since then and obviously they have had discussion with the DFEE and OfSTED and took advice on what has happened.

"I think they have tried to choose measures which are an appropriate way of dealing with the problems in the school now to give the community confidence in it.

"At the end of the day it is not how we feel about it but about the kids getting a proper education."

Peter Morgan, director of education at Blackburn with Darwen, said: "It is very important to note that this does not in any way reflect on the current good financial administration at Moorland nor on the commitment and hard work invested by the governing body.

"Indeed, representatives from the current governors will be part of the IEB and the current governors will play a key consultative role."

Mahfooz Hussain, executive member for education and lifelong learning at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "This is a positive and decisive move to allow rapid progress and give parents and the community confidence in the school."