A BICESTER secondary school has been put in special measures after a damning report by Ofsted inspectors.

Bicester Community College was found to be inadequate at all levels following an inspection on December 6 and 7 last year, according to the report leaked by a parent.

Achievement of pupils, quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils and leadership and management were deemed level four on the scale of one to four, with four the worst category.

At the last inspection in October 2010 the 963-pupil school was deemed satisfactory.

In response principal Jason Clarke, who took on the role in April 2010, sent a newsletter to all parents to explain what the school was doing to turn itself around.

He detailed changes already in place including on-going teacher training, better tracking of pupils achievement, a weekly attendance review, and improved communication with parents.

He said: “Although special measures is an emotive label, it will increase the capacity of the college to implement more rapidly the steps required to improve.

“It will ultimately result in the outcome for which we have been striving – a college of which our students and wider community can be proud.

“The bottom line is that we share Ofsted’s view of what needs to be done, and recognise that we need to do so more quickly.”

Oxfordshire County Council was not prepared to comment until the report’s offical publication, which is expected to be made next week.