A HEADTEACHER has resigned after inspectors criticised him for covering up his school’s failings.

Andy White quit his role at the Woodlands School in Basildon after Ofsted inspectors slammed it for weak teaching and falling standards.

The inspectors said Mr White had promoted the school as excellent, but added “nothing was further than the truth”.

The school, which was rated as good in its last inspection in 2009, has now been put into special measures, which means urgent action is needed to turn it around.

In a report, lead inspector David Jones said the school had misled parents and members of the public by presenting the school in a positive light.

The report said: “The headteacher has promoted the public profile of a successful school where good teaching is improving standards – over the last three years nothing could be further from the truth.

“Senior staff have not addressed the reality of declining standards, poor achievement and weak teaching.”

It added: “The information placed on the school’s website has been overly positive and inaccurate.

“The governing body has not been provided with accurate data on the school’s performance and has struggled to offer the critical challenge required.”

The report also said staff pay rises had been decided on by Mr White rather than being linked to standards.

Mr White, who has been headteacher at the school for 23 years, resigned following the damning report.

Essex County Council, which oversees the school, warned teachers it was one of the lowest performing in the county following poor GCSE results for the second year running this summer.

Inspectors said despite these warnings the school had failed to act.

The report said: “During this inspection, in half of all lessons seen, the teaching required improvement or was inadequate.

“The school’s records that relate to the quality of teaching over the last school year were notably more positive than the outcomes of this inspection and, more importantly, bore no relationship to the decline in standards and achievement.”

The Echo contacted the school yesterday, but staff and Mr White refused to comment.