Growing calls for head to step down at troubled Coseley primary school

Hurst Hill Primary School was placed in special measures after an Ofsted report published on June 27 labelled the school inadequate.

The inspection took place in May just days after parents took their children out of class amid concerns that a pupil had a knife, although the rumours proved to be unfounded.

Now members of the Hurst Hill parents group are campaigning for headteacher Mrs Caroline Dingle and the management team to step down.

The group is being backed by Coseley councillor Star Etheridge.

Councillor Etheridge has written to the Interim Directorate of Children's Services at Dudley Council to highlight parents' concerns and said: "I have been contacted by a number of parents with concerns about the Ofsted report.

"It appears that due to the poor results from Ofsted that resignations of the said leadership team and the governors is the most appropriate first step.

"The children are the first and only consideration in this matter and it is for them that I am so vehement in suggesting resignations because there is no way that these children should be short-changed.

"This is very upsetting for parents and their children are losing out on the vital building blocks to progress their education. It is striking that only three years ago the school was rated as a 'Good'. What has happened in such a short space of time to turn a good school to one that is in special measures?"

Councillor Etheridge added: "I would like to know what the school in conjunction with Children's Services propose to do?"

Karl Stevens, Chairman of the Hurst Hill parents group said: "We want resignations. The school is simply failing our children. This ongoing failure has gone on for far too long. The performance of Hurst Hill Primary continues to decline. Surely serious action is needed. Why is Dudley Council not taking appropriate action to address this issue?"

The report by the education watchdog found that the school requires special measures because it is failing to give pupils an acceptable level of education.

However headteacher Mrs Dingle said: "We always strive for the very best educational standards for our pupils and recognise the opportunity to make improvements.

"A number of improvement measures have already been put in place, including partnership working with other schools, and we will continue to keep parents regularly informed as we make progress. We want to maintain a positive, learning environment for all of the children to the end of term, and welcome any comments from parents to us directly.

"Our pupils will continue to be at the heart of everything we do, and we will continue to work with the local authority, parents and governors to raise standards further."