Labour is burying bad news on schools

Ofsted inspectors withhold critical reports in the three-week run-up to the polls but continue to release full details of good schools.

They also delay findings on Tony Blair's privately-sponsored academies, several of which have been less than glowing.

Ofsted insisted the policy is needed to prevent it becoming embroiled in party politics but the Tories yesterday called the approach 'misguided'.

The controversial policy emerged after Ofsted mistakenly posted details of a failing school on its website during the Easter holidays - before teachers had seen it themselves.

Realising the error, officials hastily removed it - and admitted they cannot put it back into the public domain until the day after the local elections on May 3. This is because civil servants had entered 'election purdah.'

Burnham Upper School had been inspected at the end of February when inspectors concluded the secondary modern in Buckinghamshire needed special measures because it is failing to provide an adequate education.

'In order to maintain the political impartiality of the civil service, in the period preceding elections civil servants must ensure that information that they make public has no party political implications,' said Jo Page, a spokesman for the Government's news network.

'They do not put out the reports that are more negative because they are worried that that would be used as ammunition by opposition parties to criticise policies.

'It is really just not taking any actions that would show us to take a stance.

'Not putting any out would avoid any implication that we are taking a particular stance or making a political comment.'

Ofsted is the Government's inspections agency which monitors all state schools, and some independent.

A spokesman said the policy on withholding critical reports was long-standing and applied to inspections which put schools in special measures or gave them a 'notice to improve', meaning they are in danger of failing.

She said purdah this year ran between April 12 and May 3. But Tory schools spokesman Nick Gibb said: 'I am surprised by this policy.

'It should be to publish all reports or no reports and I would prefer to see their work continuing regardless of local elections.

'A good report can be just as politically sensitive as a bad report. Ofsted is being oversensitive.'

Tory councillors in Buckinghamshire also criticised the policy, even though they hold sway in Buckinghamshire County Council, which is responsible for the failing school.

'I could be extremely critical of Ofsted quite frankly,' said Marion Clayton, member for achievement and learning.

'They have broken their own rules by publishing the report but Buckinghamshire schools are not political bodies and why on earth should they be hindered by the purdah rule at district elections?

'It does seem misguided and has put Ofsted in a very embarrassing position.'

Ofsted said that 'in line with our previous practice' reports which place a school in special measures or give notice to improve would not be published until after the elections.

The concept of burying bad news emerged in 2001 after the September 11 terror attacks. Jo Moore, former aide to Transport Secretary Stephen Byers, sent a memo to colleagues saying it was a 'good day' to bury bad news.