A Sussex town has been given the unenviable reputation of having two of the worst performing schools in the county.

Two Hailsham primary schools have been put into special measures by the government.

Marshlands Primary School in Marshfoot Lane and White House Primary School in North Street were both visited by Ofsted inspectors in September who deemed that both offer an 'inadequate' level of education.

Both schools were criticised for failing to meet standards in basic subjects such as English, maths and science, particularly in children aged nine to 11.

The news is surprising for Marshlands School as it was given a 98 per cent improvement rating by inspectors in 2003.

The 172-pupil school was criticised for its poor attendance and "exceptionally low" standards of English and maths.

The report states: "Progress has been too slow since the previous inspection as standards remain exceptionally low in much of the school."

However, it noted the school serves a deprived area and praised new headteacher Peter Kavanagh, who arrived in post days before the inspection, for identifying "a clear way forward".

Mr Kavanagh said: "The inspection has been a timely review and it has identified the areas we need to work on."

LEA governor, Janet Olesen, said the decision had been a surprise but that staff and governors were feeling positive.

White House, which has 183 pupils, was particularly criticised for poor standards among boys and its report stated: "Standards in the school for a significant number of pupils have been in decline for many years."

But the school also recently appointed a new headteacher, Heather Baldwin, who started in September.

She said: "I'm feeling very positive about it. This is a brilliant school and I'm very proud to be the headteacher. The staff, parents and governors are all behind me. There have been some issues over a period of time which I had already identified and we have already made great improvements."

Mrs Baldwin previously worked as deputy headteacher at Seaford Primary School which also experienced special measures and said: "There are no surprises for me."

LEA governor, Dudley Rose, said: "It's very sad when these things happen but it's got a positive side to it. The governors have been asking for help because it's not easy running a small school and now we are going to get help.

"But the kids like going to school, it's a happy school. I have been there 20 years and many years ago it was very demoralised. It was turned around by the last head but when you get a changeover everything gets upset for a little while."

Leader of Wealden District Council Nigel Coltman, who lives in Hailsham and is a governor of White House, said parents needed to encourage learning at home, though he believes the Ofsted decision was more about government policy.

He said: "I think the government's got a lot tighter in what it regards as success and failure, though they're right to pick up the two schools.

"The hurdle has got a bit higher to clear because they said the schools had a good ethos but criticised the teaching methods.

"Being a happy well-adjusted school is not good enough, we've got to be sharper at English and maths.

"But it's down to the parents as well, especially with English. Parents have got to get children interested in reading. I did it with my sons, we read together avidly and when you can get them into novels it expands them into all areas of education.

"But at its core I believe in Hailsham schools. All my four sons have gone to Hailsham schools."

A spokesman for East Sussex Council said the length of time the schools would be in special measures would be decided by Ofsted, and added they will "continue to support and work closely with the schools in every way we can".

The two schools are the only ones in East Sussex in special measures. In West Sussex there are three schools currently in special measures.

Midhurst Grammar School in North Street, Midhurst, entered special measures after an inspection in February 2006. St Catherine's Catholic Primary School in Highdown Drive, Littlehampton, went into special measures in June 2006, and Flora McDonald Junior School in Whitelea Road, Littlehampton, joined it last September.

To view the Ofsted report for White House Primary School, click here

To view the Ofsted report for Marshlands Primary School, click here