A TORY education chief has defended a council's efforts to 'turn around' a failing grammar school as a government minister called for him to step down.

Stretford Grammar became the first of its kind in the country to be placed in special measures.

Children's Minister Bev Hughes, MP for Stretford and Urmston, has called for Coun John Holden, Trafford council's education executive member, to 'reconsider his position' in the wake of the school's damning Ofsted report. But Mr Holden, who recently became a governor at the school, has described the calls an 'unfounded attack' on the Conservative council.

Ofsted inspectors were highly critical of the school's leadership and management in a damning report, which came weeks after the resignation of the school's head, Peter Cookson.

Ms Hughes said: "The report makes clear that there's been a failure of leadership and management. It says the governance was inadequate and it charts a great deal of complacency in keeping track of the pupils' progress."

Stretford Grammar, which has 755 pupils, became a specialist science college in 2005 and a foundation school - in charge of its own finances - at the start of last year.

Effectiveness

Last year it was one of the top performing schools in Trafford, with 95 per cent of 15-year-olds achieving five A* to C grades at GCSE, although the figure was down from 98 per cent in 2006.

But the inspectors now say the school's overall effectiveness is 'inadequate' and it is failing to give pupils an 'acceptable standard of education'.

They said teaching and learning is satisfactory but achievements and standards, the curriculum and leadership and management are all inadequate.

David Wilson, head of Sale Grammar, has been temporarily placed in charge until a new head is appointed permanently.

Mr Holden has defended the council's efforts to 'turn around' the school.

He said: "I have the full support of my leadership and the executive at Trafford in the work we have already begun to turn the school around."