COUNCILLORS have voted to try and keep the names of schools needing special help a secret from Bournemouth parents.
They were unhappy nine schools appeared in the Daily Echo after being named in a publicly available council report to the children and families scrutiny panel.
The panel unanimously voted on Tuesday to have all future reports naming schools presented in secret without the public or press present.
Emma Rawson, head teacher of Stourfield Junior School, and chairman of Bournemouth Primary Schools Association, told the panel: "The article caused quite a bit of consternation among my colleagues. It had a negative impact on these schools and the staff working in them. It caused a lot of work to repair parents' confidence."
Jane Portman, director of children's services, said four secondary school head teachers emailed the council to agree the reports should be discussed in secret.
But after the meeting Margaret Morrissey, spokesman for the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations, said it was the wrong decision.
"My experience has been that when few people know, it leaves it open for more things to go wrong because people are not being held accountable," she said. "We don't want teachers beaten under but it's important for the children action is taken if someone is not doing a good enough job."
The panel had asked for the report naming the nine schools because they had not realised the dire straits Townsend Primary School was in until it was threatened with closure.
They were unsure whether names of the schools could be obtained using the Freedom of Information Act.
Townsend Primary School was named in January as needing Ofsted help in special measures.
The schools named as needing council help to make sure they don't start seriously failing their pupils were Winton Primary, the federation of Bethany Junior and St Clement's and St John's Infant, Heathlands Primary and Kingsleigh Primary.
Kings High and the Bishop of Winchester Comprehensive School were receiving special help towards their exams. Oakmead College of Technology was being given support for year nine English.
