GOVERNMENT inspectors have highlighted "serious weaknesses" in the running of a Prestwich school.

Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, has criticised Butterstile CP School's lack of strong leadership and long-term planning.

Disturbingly, it found the school had no properly agreed procedures on bullying despite the fears of parents.

And, the damning report concluded that the school does not offer good value for money.

But head teacher Mr Brian Earnshaw has argued the problems outlined are largely due to pressures caused by a £60,000 budget cut at the school.

He believes the inspectors have unfairly dwelt on negative aspects of the school.

The main areas of concern outlined in the report are:

The school "lacks strong leadership and a clear sense of its educational direction"

The way the curriculum is set out, with an emphasis on teaching facts rather than skills, is "a serious weakness in provision".

During talks with parents, many raised concerns about bullying, but inspectors found school policy "lacks procedures that are agreed, understood and consistently applied" on the issue.

Parents are worried about homework, and the inspectors said: "arrangements for homework are currently unsatisfactory".

There is a lack of long-term planning at the school. The school "does not currently offer satisfactory value for money".

The report did acknowledge that teaching is satisfactory in nine-out-of-10 lessons and that pupils were happy at the school.

One of the main criticisms is that Mr Earnshaw does not attend management meetings dealing with developing the curriculum. This falls on a deputy head with a full teaching timetable and responsibility for special educational needs.

Mr Earnshaw said: "Cash cuts for the current school year mean the school has lost a teacher and three nursery nurses and the deputy head has been forced to take on more teaching.

"The curriculum problems do not affect key areas of English and maths, but other subjects like music and art.

"Several areas of teaching were praised by the inspectors, and they gave credit for good levels of attainment in core subjects such as English and maths.

"The provision for social, moral, spiritual and cultural development of pupils is 'sound' or 'satisfactory'.

"I think the report could have done more to highlight the positives of the school.

"We do take on board the criticisms, and we will be tackling them. But I do feel the report could have reflected more positive things."

Governors meet next week to discuss the report, and an action plan must be produced by the end of September.

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