AN emergency Ofsted inspection of a Trafford school that was once classed as outstanding has judged that it is now in 'tatters.

Inspectors carried out a review of Bollin Primary School due to 'serious concerns about a breakdown in leadership'.

Following their visit in March they compiled a damning report on the current state of the Apsley Grove school.

Leaders at the school, though, say they are confident they can quickly turn things around.

The inspection followed a period of turmoil for the 460-pupil school, which had been at the centre of a leadership row for some months, culminating in a parent protest and teacher strike in February. This led to the council briefly closing the school due to the absence of key members of staff, before It was reopened with interim headteacher Kylie Spark at the helm.

Inspectors said the school - which was classed as outstanding in 2007 - requires special measures because it is 'failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education and the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement in the school."

Classing the school as 'inadequate', the report said: "This once thriving school is in tatters.

"Recent events, fuelled by disagreements among staff and parents, have sullied the previously glowing reputation of Bollin in the community."

It pointed out that "many teachers and parents have lost trust and confidence in the leadership of the school."

The effectiveness of leadership and management and the quality of teaching, learning and assessment were both classed as inadequate. Personal development, outcomes for pupils and early years provision were deemed to be 'requiring improvement'

The report said: "This is a school in turmoil. It is broken.

"The current atmosphere of discord and mistrust among staff and parents is doing little to build bridges and re-establish Bollin at the heart of the community."

The report said that while recent events 'go a long way' to explaining the current situation, these are no the only reasons the school requires special measures. It said that , over time, leaders at all levels have failed to 'halt the decline in teaching and pupils' achievement."

The report praised interim headteacher Mrs Spark, though. It said she was 'restoring faith among teachers and parents" and had "steadied the ship quickly."

Cllr Brian Rigby, the chairman of the school's interim executive board, said: "We accept the Ofsted report but I am very confident we can make rapid progress.

"We have the services of an outstanding headteacher in Kylie Spark."