AN action plan is set to be launched at a crisis-hit Kidderminster school criticised for poor management and standards.

Worcestershire county councillors are due to debate tomorrow a £700,000 action plan for Harry Cheshire High School after Government inspectors said it had made unsatisfactory progress.

They judged it the first high school in the county to be underachieving and highlighted several weaknesses.

Now school governors have asked the education department to help implement its post-Ofsted Action Plan.

Weaknesses highlighted included:

Provision in five of the 11 subjects unsatisfactory.

Management insufficiently focused on the implementation of strategies for raising standards.

Poor attendance.

Since the September Ofsted inspection headteacher Michael Hird has resigned. However, education chief Julien Kramer said this was not due to the school's performance but for personal reasons. The authority had yet to re-advertise the post.

A report to tomorrow's county council cabinet committee highlights other "challenges" the school faces. These include:

Low standards in national examinations. GCSE results for pupils gaining five A* to C grades last year fell from 30 per cent to 23.1 per cent. The national average is 47.5 per cent.

A "significant" proportion of pupils from socially deprived areas.

A "significant" proportion of pupils with challenging behaviour.

Mr Kramer dubbed the underachieving tag harsh stating the school had made steady progress until last year's examination "blip".

He said the school was an easy target while management at other schools did not have to push so hard for good results.

He added: "I do not think labels like this help the school and it has done significant damage to the morale and confidence of staff who are working hard.

"If management at Harry Cheshire have taken their eye off the ball, they have accepted that and are doing something about it.

"I must stress underachieving does not mean failing and we relish the opportunity to build on the existing good work at Harry Cheshire."

The education chief said a significant sum of the £700,000 would be spent on securing a top headteacher for the school. He will also be looking to fill other key posts and improve accommodation and facilities.

A private company may be used in the quest to attract staff to the school to fill key posts.

Looking to the future, Mr Kramer said the plan was to improve Harry Cheshire's status in the town so it was a strong option as a school.

Numbers at the establishment have fallen from 1,200 in the early 70s to 480.

He said there was no question of it being closed under the re-organisation of schools in Wyre Forest.

He added: "We want Harry Cheshire to continue to improve its standards and be a strong third high school for the town."