Whitehaven Academy has plunged into special measures, Ofsted has confirmed.

The latest damning education report has been published on the academy's website.

It concludes the overall effectiveness, effectiveness of leadership and management, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, outcomes for pupils and the 16 to 19 study programmes is inadequate. Personal development, behaviour and welfare requires improvement.

This is the first inspection since it was transformed into an academy, by the Bright Tribe Trust, in January 2014.

Inspectors said the school requires special measures because "it is failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education and the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement in the school".

Around 60 disgruntled staff members, on behalf of all staff, have already signed a letter to government officials claiming the Bright Tribe's Trust Trust's failing leadership.

They have declared a vote of no confidence in the Trust and are calling for its removal.

Ofsted noted the academy has had several headteachers, the most recent being Warren Turner, who started in September.

Inspectors praised him but said it was "too soon to gauge the impact" of his work on the quality of teaching, on outcomes for pupils and on the curriculum.

The report says: "All groups of pupils make inadequate progress from their starting points. Outcomes for pupils were well below national averages in the last two years and show no signs of improvement for current cohorts of pupils."

"Leaders have not developed accurate assessment processes which tell them how well pupils are performing.

"The sixth form programmes of study do not meet statutory requirements."

Inspectors said the curriculum is "inadequate".

The report added: "The sponsor, Bright Tribe, has only recently begun to support the school’s improvement and hold its leaders to account. As a result, there has been insufficient improvement and the school has failed too many of its pupils."

It said governance arrangements are currently "ineffective".

The report also said the school environment is in a poor state of repair and does not encourage or celebrate learning.

But, strengths highlighted included improved school attendance, pupils dress smartly and are "courteous and respectful".

"In a short space of time, the newly appointed headteacher has put in place rigorous systems to monitor the quality of the school’s provision. He is providing the school with dynamic and determined leadership," inspectors said.

Numerous improvements have been listed for the school to raise achievement, improve pupils progress, improve the effectiveness of leadership and management and improve the quality of education in the sixth form.

Kathy Kirkham, Bright Tribe's chief operating officer, said: "Naturally, we are disappointed with the outcome of the Ofsted inspection for The Whitehaven Academy, but it is one we will accept and from which we will move forward.

"Our new principal Warren Turner was highly praised in the Ofsted report for his inspirational leadership, the significant progress he has made and his engagement with parents."

She said the school has faced many "historic challenges", which date back to before the school joined Bright Tribe.

She highlighted the infrastructure and classroom environments and says the trust aims to raise the capital to build a new school.

Mrs Keenanan said: "When we first brought the school into the Trust it was made clear that this would be a five-year turnaround challenge.

"The Ofsted report recognises the many improvements recently made, and feedback was given that we have ‘moved mountains’ with regards to establishing a good foundation for success in all areas."

She said the Trust and academy will "continue to progress and implement whatever changes are necessary".