THE head of Cliffey House Special School has expressed sadness after Worcestershire County Council confirmed it was to be shut down.

But Ann Starr, who only became head at the beginning of term, congratulated her staff and pupils after it was announced the school had been taken off special measures by OFSTED.

She vowed to keep improving the school until the end came in August 2004.

"I think the staff feel we have got a good school," she said.

Special measures are imposed when a school is judged by inspectors to be failing or likely to fail to provide an acceptable standard of education. The school was taken off special measures in December 2002 but the decision was only announced last week.

About the announcement of closure, which came on Tuesday, Ms Starr said: "I acknowledge and understand that pupils and parents and staff are going to be anxious but I'm confident the LEA will do their best to make sure there is a smooth transition to where the pupils are going to go."

The decision came after Worcestershire County Coun-cil's cabinet decided to stop maintaining the school following a change in local authority guidelines on the teaching of pupils with special educational needs.

Where possible those pupils will now be taught in mainstream schools.

Pupils from Cliffey House will be divided among nine schools across Worcestershire.

The Chase and Dyson Perrins High School in Malvern are expected to have learning centres open by September 2004 and Hanley Castle High School by September 2005, with the help of £2.5 million extra funding.

A centre for autistic children will be opened at Dysons in September this year.

A team of educational psychologists is assessing the needs of Cliffey House pupils and consulting with parents on their preference for school placement.