Inspectors are critical of school

Inspectors visited the 800-pupil school in November

A school which had faced strike action by its teachers has been recommended to be placed under "special measures" following an independent inspection.

The recommendation for Pontllanfraith Comprehensive in Caerphilly county means inspectors consider it is failing its 800 pupils.

The council said the initial findings were surprising and disappointing.

It said it would support the school in its attempts to raise standards and address the issues identified.

A team from Estyn, the Welsh schools inspection body, will now visit the comprehensive to verify or amend that recommendation.

Inspectors visited the school on 13 November, but it is unclear what they found as their report will not be published until January.

According to the Education Act 2005, a school is put into special measures when it is judged to be failing to be giving its pupils an acceptable standard of education and those responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvements to the school.

School management has not commented on the findings.

Pontllanfraith Comprehensive was last inspected in October 2000, when it was praised for its good standards of discipline.

Earlier this year, 35 teachers went on strike in a long-running row over extra responsibility payments.

They had been unhappy about a new system for the payments, which are worth up to £11,000 a year. This dispute has now been resolved.