A SOUTHAMPTON secondary school has been put into special measures after it was found to have serious weaknesses.

Ofsted, the watchdog body for schools, has ordered Cantell School to devise an action plan to tackle a raft of problems including unacceptable pupil behaviour, unsatisfactory teaching and below average pupil achievement.

The school was also criticised for poor attendance of students, truancy during lessons and failure by the governors to stop the school's decline.

But the new head teacher of the 1,217 pupil school in Violet Road, Bassett, has vowed to improve standards across the board so that it can be put back on track and taken off the special measures list.

Ruth Johnson, previously deputy head teacher at the city's Regent's Park Girls', took up her new post at the beginning of this term, replacing David Burge

She says she has already taken action to address some of the inspectors' concerns regarding pupil behaviour and attendance.

Teachers, governors and pupils are drawing up a new behaviour management policy and an isolation room has been opened for disruptive pupils so that they cannot continue to disrupt lessons.

The on-call procedure that allows teachers to contact senior members of staff for assistance has also been reviewed.

Attendance has already improved after a new policy of telephoning the parents of absent pupils was introduced this term. An attendance officer is due to be recruited to help cut down on truancy further.

A number of key appointments have been made in maths, science and ICT with a new head of science starting in January.

Mrs Johnson admitted that the school was not achieving its potential but insisted that, in time, it would.

"We are very clear where we need to go. We are aware of our strengths and weaknesses and we are quite excited about moving the school forward."

Paul Nugent, principal officer for Standards in School Improvement at Southampton LEA said: "We take this report very seriously and will be looking very carefully at each of the issues that are raised.

"We are providing intensive support, which is showing benefits. We will be keeping a close eye on progress."

Chairman of governors Dr Alan Hunt said: "The governing body is fully supportive of everything that Ruth is doing as head teacher and what the LEA is putting in place to support the school."

Inspectors will re-visit the school in about five months' time to check on its progress and decide whether to take the school out of special measures.

Langdown Junior School in Hythe has this week been taken out of special measures after a year of improvement following a damning Ofsted report. Harefield Junior School in Southampton is currently trying to improve its standards so it can be taken out of the category too.

CANTELL SCHOOL: OFSTED REPORT

STRENGTHS

Some teaching is good, engaging and challenging pupils to achieve well.

Pupils' current achievements are good in some subjects including English, art, music and physical education.

Pupils with special educational needs, who received specialist support, do well because of the dedicated teaching they receive.

The school promotes good cultural awareness and racial harmony is good.

The new head teacher has a clear vision for the future based on an accurate view of the school's strengths and weaknesses.

WEAKNESSES

The behaviour of many pupils in and out of lessons is unacceptable. Staff supervision is poor.

Too often teaching is unsatisfactory and teachers do not match work to pupils' needs or manage disruptive behaviour.

Overall pupils' achievement in maths, science and ICT is unsatisfactory.

In years ten and 11 pupil achievement is unsatisfactory in religious education, geography, history and design and technology.

Attendance is poor and some pupils truant during lessons. Procedures for checking on this are not routinely followed.

Statutory requirements are not fully met for pupils with special educational needs, religious education and ICT. The school does not provide a daily act of worship.

A significant minority of pupils behave in a way that disrupts pupils' learning and a few cause serious bullying problems although inspectors found decisive action is being taken.

Pupils' achievement is unsatisfactory overall at the end of years nine and 11.

Results in English, maths and science at the end of year nine were below average overall although this year's results showed a slight improvement.

Pupils' personal qualities are poor. Their social, moral and spiritual development is unsatisfactory.

Leadership and management are poor.

Governors have not done enough to account for the school's decline.

Some senior and middle managers have not focused on appropriate priorities but others have a clear view of what is needed and begun to move in the right direction.

IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED

Establish a clear behaviour management policy

Improve effectiveness of monitoring, particularly of maths, science and ICT, to raise achievement.

Strengthen leadership, management and governance.

Deal with attendance and truancy issues by applying current policies systematically.

Improve systems of assessment.