A CONTROVERSIAL school for youngsters with behavioural problems has been slammed in an Ofsted report.

But the damning findings into the Continuum School, in Vanderwalt Avenue, Canvey, have now been called into question after the report was pulled from the watchdog’s website.

Ofsted published its report following an emergency inspection of the school in response to a formal complaint from Castle Point MP Bob Spink.

The document, which the Echo was able to look at before it was taken off the internet, said the quality of education was “inadequate”.

It also raised concerns about out-of-control pupils, who it was said ignore teachers and walk out of lessons without permission.

It stated: “During the lessons, students argue over each other’s viewpoints, laugh at each other, throw resources over each other, such as Blu-Tack, and play with matches.

“They tend to sit on the tables rather than chairs and walk out of the classrooms without permission.”

The school for 11 to 16 year-olds opened in the former Leigh Beck doctors’ surgery in September last year, despite residents’ and local politicians’ concerns it should not be in a residential area.

Ofsted’s decision to publish the report is being questioned, with managing director of the school, Bob Hall, insisting it is misleading.

He said: “Ofsted only visited our school for three hours across the lunch period, when no pupils were in lessons and most were off the premises on extra-curricular activities.

“Their report was not subjected to the normal quality checks expected of Ofsted, as they are supposed to send the report to the school in question before it is published to double-check for inaccuracies. This was not done.”

Essex County Council also disputes the findings.

Council spokeswoman Eleri Roberts said: “The report has been removed from the Ofsted website as it contained factual inaccuracies and will be contested.”

The Ofsted report was taken off the website last Thursday.

Only 14 pupils attend Continuum. It is understood they come from across south Essex and must live within a 40-minute drive of Canvey.

MP Bob Spink will call on the Schools Secretary to force Ofsted to publish the report on Continuum School.

The MP, who has been campaigning for months for the school to be moved, is disgusted the damning report has been withdrawn.

He plans to question Ed Balls in Parliament over why it happened and call for it to be put back on the website.

He said: “These Ofsted reports are meant for public consumption and the public need to know exactly what is going on at this school, which I believe is for the worst behaving yobs for miles around.

“The report certainly shouldn’t be withdrawn because of a complaint from the place it is criticising. The county council sanctioned the opening of this school without properly consulting residents.

“This report confirmed my concerns and the council should move it to a more suitable location that is not in the middle of a residential area.”