A GENERATION of schoolchildren is suffering from poor standards at a failing school, Lib Dems claim.

Eastwood Primary School, in Rayleigh Road, Eastwood has been on Ofsted’s failing list since June last year.

The latest report by Ofsted inspectors found there had been improvements, but inadequate progress hads been made to improve the quality of teaching.

Tory councillor responsible for education, Roger Hadley, told a full council meeting progress was being made.

However, Ric Morgan (Lib Dem, Prittlewell) said: “I’ve visited the school and I don’t share the portfolio holder’s optimism about its future. It’s a very serious situation and not one I can see rapidly improving.

“A generation of children who have gone through the junior school is suffering. It’s not easy to pick up the pieces at secondary school.”

Mr Hadley admitted: “Yes, mistakes have happened. But the latest Ofsted report shows the school is progressing.”

Asked to clarify his comments by Lib Dem leader Graham Longley (Blenheim Park), Mr Hadley said: “Support should have gone in there earlier. It wasn’t picked up. But when it was, support was put into that school.”

Mr Longley said councils had been sued by parents for similar situations arising at schools they looked after.

He said: “I’m concerned to hear mistakes were made and not picked up. A lost generation has suffered because of this.”

Cheryl Woolf, the headteacher of West Leigh Junior School, was appointed by the council as temporary executive head to sort out the problem.

Mr Hadley said the nearby Eastwood School, had an “excellent” catch-up programme to help children who had come from the primary school.

He added: “Cheryl Woolf is one of the best heads we have in Southend and is working very hard in improving teaching standards.”

Mr Morgan urged Mr Hadley to appoint a full-time headteacher at the school to focus on the quality of teaching.