Teachers criticised for 'scruffy' appearance

Teachers at a school in north London have been criticised by school inspectors for being too scruffy. OFSTED said clothes worn by some staff at Acland Burghley School in Camden were 'too casual' and 'undermined standards'.

It follows a campaign by inspectors to encourage teachers to smarten up. In the first reprimand of it's kind, teachers have been criticised for not dressing "in a business-like fashion".

The school has been classed as 'requiring improvement' and has been under extra scrutiny since a full inspection in September. Pupils don't have to wear a uniform and the report says there's also a slap-dash approach to work in schoolbooks. In a letter to the headteacher the inspector said:

But teachers at the school, which specialises in the arts, say they dress appropriately for the lesson requirements. Dance teacher Bonnie Oddie went on to say:

The issue has sparked a big debate locally - as our Senior Correspondent Ronke Phillips reports: