A SCHOOL’S decision to rate itself “good” before an Ofsted inspection which found it required special measures was “difficult to defend”, Bury Council has said.

The Department for Education is to turn Gorsefield Primary School, in Robertson Street, into the second academy in Radcliffe after Government inspectors ranked it “inadequate” last November.

Cllr Gill Campbell, Bury Council’s cabinet member for children and families, confirmed the authority will now seek a sponsor for the school.

At Bury Council’s full meeting last week, Cllr Nick Parnell asked for an explanation as to why Gorsefield, deemed “good” by Ofsted in 2010, could have been rated “inadequate”.

Cllr Campbell said a local authority health check prior to the Ofsted inspection deemed the school to be “requiring improvement” due to pupils’ progress.

She added: “The head and chairman of governors of Gorsefield did not agree with the judgement of the local authority about the school and in the selfevaluation presented to Ofsted judged the school to be “good”.

“This was unfortunate and when the Ofsted team visited the school and saw poorer practice than expected this made the position of the school more difficult to defend.

“The local authority stands by the view this is a “requiring improvement” school rather than an “inadequate” school.

“We are drawing up a support plan for the school and will work hard with the head and leadership to move the school forward in the next few months.”

Governors at Gorsefield have submitted a formal complaint against Ofsted’s judgment and have requested an accuracy check.

■ Radcliffe Primary School in Coronation Road re-opened as an academy last month, sponsored by Bury College.