A TROUBLESHOOTER is being drafted in by County Hall to help a crisis-hit Burnley school get back on track.

Richard Hooper, formerly head of adult learning at Lancashire County Council, said he is looking forward to will join the board of governors at Hameldon Community College, in Byron Street, which was placed in special measures by Ofsted back in March.

Inspectors criticised senior management and the behaviour of pupils and found the teaching of all but three subjects to be unsatisfactory.

Following this Coun Marcus Johnstone, a member of the cabinet of Lancashire County Council, which is in charge of the school, hit out at the "extraordinarily weak leadership" at school, which is headed by Gill Broom.

Education committees have the power to appoint experienced figures from across the teaching world to help troubled schools out of the mire.

Mr Hooper said he has no direct school experience but is no stranger to an educational management role as he is also vice chairman of Preston College.

The appointment has been made by Pat Jefferson, the county authority's executive director for children and young people.

It is expected to be rubberstamped by Coun Vali Patel, Lancashire's executive member for schools, next week.

The controversial school - formed following the amalgamation of Ivy Bank and Habergham high schools - had only opened in September 2006.

But the Building Schools for the Future flagship was beset by problems, including pupils fighting posted on the youtube website.

Next month the school is due to be reinspected by education watchdogs to see if it has made any improvements.

Richard Hooper, who was head of adult learning services in 2005 when they were awarded top inspectorate marks by the national adult learning inspectorate, said: "I do not have school experience but I do have related educational experience which I hope will be useful in working with the other governors.

"So hopefully this will be a mutually beneficial relationship with the other governors."

Gordon Birtwistle, leader of Burnley Council, welcomed the move as a first step towards helping the troubled school.

He said: "I am very pleased that the educational authority are finally helping the head mistress out.

"Hopefully Mr Hooper will be successful. and we need to have successful schools because they are vital for the young people of Burnley.

"This is a start and if it's not enough they will have to do more but this is the first step."