WHETHER a Radcliffe primary school will become the second in the borough to become an academy has still not been confirmed.

Gorsefield Primary School in Robertson Street has been placed in special measures after government education watchdogs inspected the establishment last November.

Pupil achievement, quality of teaching and leadership and management were judged to be “inadequate” with behaviour and safety “requiring improvement”.

And while the Radcliffe Times understands the Department for Education is considering changing the school into an academy, governors have declined to comment on this.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Education said: “Should the decision be taken for Gorsefield Primary to become a sponsored academy, there will be a formal consultation and all responses will be taken into account.”

Following its last Ofsted inspection in 2010, Gorsefield Primary was judged to be “good” with outstanding features.

A statement from the school said its “dismayed” governing body had submitted a formal complaint against the judgement and requested an accuracy check.

Cllr Gill Campbell, cabinet member for children and families, said: “Given what has happened at Radcliffe and Elton primary schools, there is now the possibility of Gorsefield being forced to become an academy.

“Our position on this is clear – we are strongly against any of our schools being forced to become academies against their wishes.”