A FORMER head teacher of Accrington Moorhead High School today spoke of his sadness at the gang violence which has hit the school.

Terry Neville, 66, who retired from the Queens Road West school in 1991 after eight years' service, said that he could not pin-point the cause of the problems but that the results were very upsetting.

He said: "I am very saddened by what is happening. And former curriculum deputy headteacher Mrs Jean Skull would be turning in her grave if she could see what was happening. The popularity of the school has been declining for some time and it has been upsetting the neighbourhood for some time for a variety of reasons.

"I haven't really kept in touch with the school in the last few years though and couldn't comment on who is to blame. But it is sad that it has come to this."

Mr Neville left the school two terms before Kathleen Jones, the then deputy head retired. David Smith and Geoff Cartledge who were also senior members of staff also retired from teaching within a couple of years.

Mr Neville, who lives in Rishton and is a magistrate, said: "We still keep in touch and talk nostalgically about the old days. I suspect there has been a great disruption at the school with the building work there and there was a loss of senior staff over a period of time.

Following Mr Neville's retirement Allan Grey took over as headteacher but left the school in December 1991 following an attack on him by a pupil. He denied at the time that the two were linked.

Current head Andrew Bateman, appointed last January, is off sick, although he is expected to return to the school soon.

Mr Neville said that the suggestion to bring in a "super-head" could be premature, as Mr Bateman had not been in the school long enough to make a difference.

He added: "For as many super-heads that are successful there are as many who do not achieve success. Some have retained discipline and exam results have got better but I need to be convinced.

"If schools are given the staff and funding it is a phenomenal help but it is not the whole answer as schools are really the teachers and pupils, not the building.

"Schools do turn around though. I was head of English at The Hollins years ago and we strove to enhance it although we struggled. That school had a reputation at the time but has improved dramatically and the same could happen with Moorhead."