Ofsted said school standards had declined since its previous report

Inspectors said there were serious weaknesses in teaching and management at Falmouth Community School.

They said that standards at the school had declined since its previous report.

But the local education authority says an official complaint has been lodged with Ofsted about the report and some of the points have been upheld.

The report says teaching and learning at the school are unsatisfactory overall, although good in the sixth form.

The staff and myself feel very angry that the report is misleading Sandra Critchley, Falmouth Community School headteacher

Governance and management are also unsatisfactory, together with marking, assessment and the monitoring of pupils' work.

But school headteacher Sandra Critchley described the report as "an injustice".

"There is some justification for a small number of criticisms. We would expect that. We are not perfect.

"But the staff and myself feel very angry that the report is misleading.

"It contains a number of factual errors and we also believe there are errors of judgement within the report."

School governors' vice-chairwoman Marie Sharp also defended the schools' record.

The youngest, most inexperienced teachers seemed to be targeted for particular attention Dave Gardner, National Union of Teachers county secretary

She said the inspection took place just days after the start of the new school year, with new staff still settling in.

"From what I read, I do not recognise the school as described in the report.

"Unfortunately, Ofsted came into the school at a crucial time when the school was merging on one site.

"We had new teachers and I don't think it was a very good time."

The National Union of Teachers, which represents most of the schools' 70 staff, is also angry.

It said the union's head office was taking up the case with Ofsted.

Problems addressed

NUT county secretary Dave Gardner, who has taught at the school for 24 years, criticised the way the inspection was conducted.

"The youngest, most inexperienced teachers seemed to be targeted for particular attention, while the more experienced and older teachers were not seen very much at all."

Chief Schools Inspector for Cornwall County Council, Daphne Johns, said any problems would be addressed, but she said parents had to take the report's findings in context.

"With regard to GCSEs, when compared to similar schools, the school is an A grade which indicates it is in the top 25 of similar schools.

"I would like to reassure parents the local education authority monitors the performance of the school as part of its role with all schools and the process is rigorous and challenging."

Ofsted refused to comment on the criticisms.

The school will be inspected again within the next few months