CROMPTON Fold Primary decided to opt out of the control of Bolton LEA and adopt grant maintained status in 1992.

The move meant that governors and management at the school were very much in charge of the destiny of the school.

But with the advent of a Labour government the opt-out avenue was scrapped and the school is now classed as a Foundation School - which still retains the majority of control within the school.

Chair of governors Anne Hickson says that going for grant mantained status was a unanimous decision by everyone involved at the school and came after parents were balloted about the issue.

But it was eight years later that the school was heavily criticised in the Ofsted report. Mrs Hickson said: "With the benefit of hindsight we would not have done anything differently with regards to grant maintained status and it really has nothing to do with the problems the school has faced recently. We have had great support from the LEA and I must stress that we are very grateful for their help. But given the same circumstances we would go for grant maintained status again and in fact the foundation status is a very similar position to that."