A MINORITY of boys are undermining efforts to turn around Darwen Moorland High School because "weak" teachers cannot control them, inspectors claim.

The school in Holden Fold is still on course to come out of 'special measures' in March but HM Inspectorate officials have criticised the way some teachers are failing to control certain male pupils.

The school, placed in 'special measures' in 2003 following serious concerns about attainment and leadership, was judged to be making "satisfactory progress" in lessons during a routine monitoring exercise in November.

But the reports states: "The behaviour of girls is better than that of boys, particularly in Years 7 and 8, where a small minority behave badly and disrupt the work of others.

"They entered classrooms boisterously and loudly and teachers had a hard job settling them down. Where management skills are good, teachers soon established order and learning took place.

"However, where the teachers' discipline and control skills were weak, pupils shouted out, moved around the classroom, did little work and learnt little that was new."

Headteacher Gareth Dawkins, who steps down in April to become principal of an academy in Bradford, said he was delighted with overall report findings.

He said: "You have to put this in context with the journey we have travelled. In 2003 the inspectors concluded 40 per cent of our teaching was unsatisfactory and the behaviour of pupils was poor.

"Out of the seven grades available we were graded seven - now we are grade 3/4. Teaching is now satisfactory or better in 90 per cent of lessons and 90 per cent of the pupil behaviour is now satisfactory or better."

Inspectors said that despite the school's GCSE A to C pass rate rising from 30 to 34 per cent, it was well below the 46.9 national average and "standards are not high enough" at this level and Key Stage 3.

But they recognised the school's teaching was vastly improved, stating: "The impact of this improved teaching is clearly seen in the better progress being made by pupils across the school.

"Their progress was satisfactory in 24 of the 29 lessons, and good in 11. A strong feature of the better teaching was the careful planning and preparation of lessons.

"Lesson objectives were spelt out clearly, and tasks matched closely to the pupils' needs and capabilities."

l The school is set to be replaced by a 1,200-place academy due to open at Moorland in 2007 before switching to its new site in Redearth around Easter 2008.