Exclusive by Simon Tulett

A Gravesend school deemed to be failing its pupils has accused Ofsted of having a "deliberately negative agenda".

Staff at St George's Church of England School say they are shocked by the verdict from the education standards office, which plunged them into "special measures" - the worst possible scenario for a school apart from closure.

Head teacher Anne Southgate, who has been with the Gravesend school a year, said she was expecting either a "satisfactory" or "good" mark from inspectors following their December visit.

Despite the report noting several improvements to teaching and student attainment, particularly since the appointment of Mrs Southgate, the Church of England aided school in Meadow Road was judged to be failing students by not giving them an acceptable standard of education.

Simon Webb, Kent County Council's area children's services officer for north Kent, said: "I don’t think anyone would disagree that we need to raise standards, but they came in with a deliberate negative agenda. The focus the team had was on the most vulnerable staff."

The school has lodged six complaints against the conduct of the inspection team.

Mrs Southgate said students were
"upset and outraged" at news of the damning verdict.

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