A PRESTIGIOUS Merseyside school has been stripped of its “outstanding” status by Ofsted officials, who told governors they need to restore “confidence” among parents and staff.

The need to “strengthen the role of the governing body” was among areas inspectors said Calday Grange Grammar School, West Kirby, should address if it was to improve further.

The visit came amid ongoing calls from parents for governors to resign over the year-long suspension of headteacher Andrew Hall, who suffered heart failure in April.

Governors lifted his suspension in November, but told Mr Hall he will be “re-suspended” and put before a disciplinary panel when he is able to return to work.

He faces 13 allegations, including failure to report a foetus in a jar and being part of a bullying regime.

Parents have criticised governors for a lack of information about their intention to dissolve the school’s trust status, which saw it enlist Liverpool University, Unilever and Maestro Services Ltd as formal partners.

And the fall-out features in the official findings of the new Ofsted report which confirms the school is no longer making the top grading of outstanding – but is instead ranked as the next grade of good, albeit with “outstanding features”.

The inspectorate found “standards remain high and all aspects of its provision are good” and pupils were proud of their school.