PARENTS have pledged support for a trouble-hit Monmouthshire primary school, criticised in a government inspection for "serious weaknesses."

Parents whose children attend Trellech Primary School, near Monmouth, said that, despite the damning report, the future looks good.

Yesterday the Argus revealed that an Assembly insp-ector found the serious weaknesses in performance and organisation.

The inspector's report cited poor long-term leadership and management, and said "urgent action" was needed.

Nine governors resigned last June saying the existing structure left them unable to make an effective contribution. Some parents were also understood to be unhappy at the return after a year's sick leave of then-head teacher Linda Beavan, also last June.

Monmouthshire County Council subsequently found her alternative employment at her request.

Yesterday, Trellech mum-of-two Julie Evans, 33, told the Argus she was optimistic for the future: "It is a good school that has had a bad past but is now on the way up."

A past pupil herself, she added: "The teachers are brilliant and it is a happy place with a bright future."

Another parent, Tony Webb, of Trellech, whose daughter is in a reception class, said: "Given time things will definitely get better and I am positive we will see improvements very soon."

Mum Ruth Waycott, 38, said: "I think that the report confirmed a lot of people's concerns. I am positive that we can now move forward. It is a lovely school and everybody will now start to move it forward."

Acting head teacher Ken Jacobs, who has taken over running the school since the report, said: "I am pleased that the parents have confidence in the school and in the ability of staff."

Mr Jacobs, 56, whose permanent role is as head teacher at Green Lane Junior School, Caldicot, said the two terms he had spent at the school had been some of the happiest in his 30-year career.

He said: "This is a delightful school. It is a lovely building and a lovely setting."

Mr Jacobs said that all the staff were extremely committed to moving the school forward. He added: "It is very sad that the school has had such an unhappy past recently but I am sure that they have got the will and determination to make this school regain the position of prominence that it had years ago."

A permanent head teacher is being sought to take up the post from September.

PICTURE: Acting head teacher Ken Jacobs