A school’s slide into special measures is “distorted and unfair”, according to its chairman of governors.

Robin Hood Junior School, in Thorncroft Road, Sutton, is said to be making inadequate progress by Ofsted inspectors.

But governor Andrew Theobald has said the report is unjust and, with backing from Sutton Council, is now appealing to the independent advisory board.

They claim the inspection, which was conducted as a pilot but carries the force of a normal inspection, was flawed.

Mr Theobald said: “While we accept that there are issues that the school has to address, we believe that the report paints a distorted and unfair picture of our school.

“We feel that the report is so inaccurate and flawed that we have lodged a formal complaint with the appropriate independent appeals body.”

According to inspectors, pupils enter the school with attainment that is above the national average, but leave with average attainment.

The report said the school’s data from recent assessments “demonstrate a further decline in writing and mathematics this year”.

However, executive member for children, young people and learning services councillor Tony Brett Young said: “Pupil progress met the national average in both 2006 and 2007, although it dipped below average in 2008.

“The school worked quickly with the support of the council to change and improve, and in 2009 pupil progress increased 10 percent.

“The inspectors have looked at the results from just one year – 2008 – and used them as evidence of widespread underachievement.

“Under the previous inspection regime, Ofsted would have looked at the school’s performance over three years, not just one, before making their judgement.

An Ofsted spokesman said: “We will not comment on a school going through an appeal or complaint process.”

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