A SCHOOL has said it is "working extremely hard" after going from good to inadequate in a damming report from watchdogs.

Chappel Primary School was rated inadequate after its latest inspection by Ofsted.

It achieved a good rating for behaviour and attitudes and personal development.

But the report says both the quality of education and early years provision are requiring improvement, and leadership and management was rated inadequate.

Inspectors noted issues with leadership and teaching, saying: “The curriculum is planned to build pupils’ knowledge over time.

“However, curriculum plans are not always used or understood well.

“Teachers sometimes do not see the value in the plans or in doing what they need to do to deliver them well.”

“Teachers check what pupils know and provide feedback about what pupils can improve.

“However, support staff do not always pick up on or address misconceptions quickly enough.

“This means that some pupils do not learn as well as they should.”

Inspectors also said arrangements for safeguarding are “not effective”.

They said leaders “have not established a culture of vigilance where safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility” and “do not follow the appropriate guidance”.

The report continued: “When staff report safeguarding concerns, leaders do not take effective action to follow them up.

“They do not refer safeguarding matters to the local authority for assessment when they should.

"Leaders rely too heavily on knowing the families of pupils. Their approach to keeping children safe is too casual.

“This is reflected in poorly kept safeguarding records.

“Leaders cannot be sure that vulnerable pupils are safe from harm.”

Chappel Primary headteacher Julie Ingram said: “We are committed to ensuring all pupils at Chappel receive the best possible education.

“Following an inadequate Ofsted inspection swift action has been taken to ensure immediate improvements are made particularly in relation to the safeguarding issues. This work has already started.

“All the staff team are committed and already working extremely hard to address all areas requiring improvement.

“There are many positives in the recent report. We have been rated good in behaviour and attitudes and personal development and we will use this as a base from which to build improvement.

“I wish to thank the school community, particularly the parents, for their support.”