A FAILING high school has been put under "special measures" and given two years to improve after an education watchdog ruled standards were unacceptable.

Parents of more than 1,000 pupils at Moorland High School, Darwen, have been sent a letter explaining the move - which has prompted major concern in the community.

The Holden Fold school, which received a good report when it was last inspected by Ofsted in 1998, was the third lowest achiever in East Lancashire in recent league tables, with only 22 per cent of pupils achieving GCSE grades A*-C.

The latest report, following an inspection in November last year, states that current standards are not acceptable and that improvement must be "swift and dramatic."

Now Peter Morgan, director of education and lifelong learning at Blackburn with Darwen Council, insisted the school was not at crisis point but admitted the council had "clearly not made sufficient progress" in raising achievements.

Mr Morgan said the Local Education Authority will now have more control over the school and may remove its right to delegation - the powers a school has to manage itself.

In a report due to be published this weekend, Ofsted inspectors said the school's overall effectiveness was poor, despite a satisfactory breadth of study and some good teaching.

In highlighting a decline in standards, the Ofsted team pointed to a number of factors including a very high turnover of staff and the poor behaviour and attitudes of some pupils.

Head teacher Richard Bridges blamed massive difficulties with staff recruitment and retention and added: "I am disappointed. Everybody is disappointed. But the school is on the right track.

"The only way is up. The staff are determined to re-establish the momentum of this school as one that is moving forward."

Mr Morgan said: "We were aware for some time that the school was in difficulties and had been working on issues with them but have clearly not made sufficient progress to raise standards.

"This judgment now gives a far greater urgency to our plans and we are determined that progress will be rapid.

"It is very disappointing for the borough and the message to parents is we will be doing what we can to benefit students in the long term."

Michael Law-Riding, Conservative education spokesman, said: "My main concern is for the children who are preparing for their GCSEs. It's a crucial time in their education and I want to make sure that they are given all the help they need."

Paul Fielding, whose son is in Year Eight at the school, said he had received a letter from the school and a summary report pointing out its weaknesses.

He said: "I am disgusted that it has got to this stage without something being done about it.

"My other two children left Darwen Moorland High School with lower grades than we expected compared to how well they were doing at primary school."

The school was acknowledged for improvements at Key Stage 3 and high quality in subject pockets including art and PE.

Coun Mahfooz Hussain, council executive member for education and lifelong learning, said: "The school faces some very difficult challenges but together we'll overcome them."