A SCHOOL for pupils with educational and behaviour problems has been placed under special measures after an Ofsted report. Inspectors felt that the Silverbank Centre, Medway's referral unit for 11 to 16-year-olds, had suffered over the past year because of serious staffing problems.

Two teachers responsible for much of the unsatisfactory teaching have resigned with replacements being sought and the centre which has two bases has also lacked leadership. It has a total of about 100 children at Churchill Avenue, in Chatham, for the younger ones and another that opened this term in Woodlands Road, Gillingham, for those in the last two years of their schooling.

All pupils have special educational needs, mainly related to their behaviour and usually of such severity that they have either been excluded or are in danger of being excluded from mainstream schools. The report reveals that during a crucial period the centre lost its teacher in charge because of illness and in eight months there had been two temporary replacements.

It has also been hit by a high turnover of staff compounded by recruitment difficulties.

Rose Collinson, Medway's assistant director for lifelong learning, said: "Plans are already in hand with adjustments to staffing.

From January there will be a permanent nucleus of very experienced staff and with children often with such challenging behaviour you have got to have teachers who are very skilled. We are committed to strengthening the leadership of Silverbank and together with a nucleus of experienced staff and the potential for a very good learning environment, the young people and the centre will increasingly experience success."

The centre will be inspected on a termly basis with the next visit expected at the end of next term.