A SENIOR councillor has called for further resignations after a school was placed in special measures.

Ken Lupton, former leader of Stockton Borough Council and Tory group leader, raised the issue of Ian Ramsey School at a meeting of the full council.

The headteacher at the Church of England School, Janet Wilson, quit after an Ofsted report rated it ‘inadequate’ last month.

The school, in Fairfield, Stockton, was previously rated ‘good’ but it has been placed in special measures after inspectors criticised its leadership and teaching.

There are moves for it to become an academy - moving it outside council control - while staff from the Ofsted-rated ‘outstanding’ school, St Bede’s in Sunderland, have been drafted in to improve standards.

But Cllr Lupton raised the issue of the school during the Stockton Town Hall meeting

He asked Ann McCoy, cabinet member for Children and Young People: “How has such a failure in performance came about and what actions are being taken to rectify the problems identified by Ofsted in this school?”

She said that the council had identified a need to improve standards before the Ofsted slating.

The authority is also working to with the Church of England and St Bede’s Academy to improve standards, which she said, remained above the national average.

But Cllr Lupton replied: “The headteacher found it appropriate to resign. Now we’re getting these excuses for non-performance. Is there are any other people from within the authority who will take responsibility and resign?”

Cllr McCoy told him: “It would be totally inappropriate for me to identify any people here who are involved with helping this school and call their resignation. Absolutely inappropriate.

“We will still work and help academies in Stockton, something that not every local authority does. I will give you a commitment that I will keep you informed on progress at the school.”

The Ofsted report, published in early May, said the quality of marking was not good enough, teachers had low expectations of pupils and homework wasn’t set often enough in a number of subjects.

A new management structure is being drawn up and a new school building is due to open in September.

Last year, 61 per cent of pupils at the school achieved five A* to C grades including English and Maths, above the national average.