Infamous school's results defended

The Ridings School is working to lose its failing tag

Education chiefs have defended the latest poor results from a school once called the worst in Britain.

The Ridings School, in Halifax, gained national infamy in 1996 when it was temporarily closed because staff said 60 of the students were unteachable.

Despite progress since then, led by headteacher Anna White, the latest league tables published on Thursday show the secondary school has some of the poorest results England.

But Bill Carpenter, cabinet member for education on Calderdale Council, insists the figures, while disappointing, do not reveal the full picture and gave a vote of confidence to staff and pupils.

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"It is a pity that the figures were from last summer when the pupils were the final entry from the most difficult period in the school's history," he said.

"It is quite clear from the achievements since that we can expect much better results next year."

The number of pupils gaining five GCSEs grade A-C last summer was 7%, placing the Ridings as the eighth worst in the country.

But Carol White, group director of schools and children's services, echoed Mr Carpenter's sentiments and said: "The authority fully supports the Ridings in its school improvement agenda.

"The cohort last year did face particular difficulties because of the turmoil that the school was in when the children started there in 1997.

"Those difficulties have now been completely overcome as confirmed by a very positive Ofsted inspection last year."

Staff at the school were unavailable for comment.