A MAJOR re-organisation has been announced at a Kent after it was given an unsatisfactory rating by Ofsted inspectors in the summer, and placed in special measures.

Barton Junior Schoolis one of two schools which this week joined the Dover Federation of the Arts.

The newly-enlarged governing body met for the first time on Monday evening, and on Tuesday, federation principal Chris Russell announced the changes he plans to make to save Barton School from closure.

Barton Junior School and Shatterlocks Infants School have joined with Astor College for the Arts and the White Cliffs Primary College for the Arts – formerly St Radigund’s Primary School – in the federation.

Barton was put into special measures in June after a visit by Ofsted inspectors who said the school was “failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education”.

Standards were said to have fallen since the previous inspection and, they said, those in charge were not showing they could make the improvements needed to bring the school up to standard.

The inspectors called for the establishment of an effective senior leadership team and development of management skills of teachers and governors to ensure a “dynamic team approach” to improving all aspects of the school’s performance.

“This is a serious situation,” said Mr Russell. “The ultimate scenario for a school in special measures is closure. There is a lot of work to be done, and quickly.”

A new head teacher has been appointed. David Meades, who comes from Folkestone, will take up the appointment in January.

Denyse Simmons, who is currently the deputy head of Shatterlocks, will become the school’s new head teacher.

New assistant head teachers will be appointed at both schools.