SHOCKING news  that Cinderford  now has three schools in special measures. First there was St. Whites, now Forest High and St. Anthony's.

I'm very concerned for the future of  education in the town and what can be done about it.

So much for the government's free school programme. 

At least there are two shining lights in the town. Forest View who had a very positive recent inspection and Steam Mills who consistently perform well.

Great though those two schools are they can't prop up the town by themselves without good schools working around them. 

I suppose more academies are on the cards for the town, bearing in mind the announcement by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan.

The trouble is how many more generations are going to be failed before our children get the education they deserve?

Perhaps these schools should look to the heads of Forest View and Steam Mills for inspiration – at least they are doing something right.

– Matthew Perry, Cinderford.