Ofsted rates 'outstanding' Cramlington academy as failing Published duration 16 July 2015

image copyright Cramlington Learning Village image caption Cramlington Learning Village became an academy in 2011 under rules allowing schools rated as outstanding to convert to academies

An academy school rated "outstanding" two years ago has been put into special measures by education inspectors.

Cramlington Learning Village in Northumberland has failed its latest Ofsted inspection, the BBC has learned.

The school said the Ofsted report was "inaccurate" and that it had "serious concerns" about the inspection process.

Ofsted said its reports were quality assured, but that it would be willing to discuss any "concerns" directly with the school.

The school was given the highest rating, "outstanding", in 2013 and in its previous three reports. Ofsted has yet to comment.

The latest inspection gave the overall school the lowest "inadequate" ranking, with the sixth form ranked good, the BBC understands.

'Perplexed and baffled'

In a statement, the school said the report was "disappointing".

Staff and governors believed the report painted a "highly inaccurate" picture of life at the school, it said.

Inspectors had deemed the school had "fallen short" of outstanding status, "however, we have 70% of the same students, the same head teacher and largely the same senior leadership team and governing body as we had at our 2013 inspection", a spokesperson said.

NASUWT teaching union regional organiser Simon Kennedy said: "I think the leadership and the members of staff at Cramlington will be perplexed and baffled how they can go from consistently being an outstanding school to being one where Ofsted grades them as a 'four'."

The school challenged the report's findings but was unable to change the ranking, the BBC understands.

A spokesman for Ofsted said: "Our judgements are always based on evidence and our inspection reports are quality assured. If a school has any concerns, then we will talk to them."

Academy schools are not controlled by the local authority but receive funding direct from government and sometimes through sponsors.