Ten of Poole's 42 schools were "causing concern" to the local education authority in December last year.

Measures have been taken to help them and their progress will be outlined to the Borough of Poole's learning overview and scrutiny committee tonight.

"It's clearly not a crisis, it's just the local education authority doing its job," said Cllr Annette Brooke, spokesman for learning.

All local authorities have such lists and she said it was a 'safety net' to pick up problems and help the schools at an early stage.

"We did have great concern about Kemp-Welch when it went into special measures," she said. "We are turning the corner there."

The Martin Kemp-Welch secondary school in Parkstone has recently had a very positive HMI report and is due to come out of special measures in December.

In his report Jeff Hart, Poole's head of school advice and support, said: "The 10 schools have specific weaknesses and action is being taken to support all these schools."

The local education authority declined to name any of the schools but three have been identified by Ofsted inspections as having weaknesses and all have received additional support from officers.

Four had no permanent headteacher but three now have and the fourth has recently advertised.

One school could not afford to replace its deputy headteacher and the authority offered help and advice.

One had accommodation difficulties and associated health and safety concerns and an action plan had been agreed.

Another school had been making insufficient progress in addressing key issues arising from an Ofsted inspection and was receiving ongoing support.

Mr Hart said that in London 50 schools had no permanent head teacher.

"Like all local authorities our main function is to support schools," said Mr Hart. "That's what Poole does, as all local authorities do."