OFSTED has today published a detailed report into why Chesterton Primary School in Cirencester was rated ‘inadequate’ and put into special measures.

The report comes two days after Gloucestershire County Council prematurely announced the findings of the school's Ofsted inspection.

An inspection headed by Sarah O’Donnell on September 26 and 27 led Ofsted to conclude that the primary school was “failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education”.

The report wrote that the school’s effectiveness has “declined significantly” since the last inspection in February 2013 which led to a ‘good’ rating.

It continued to say that too few pupils met the expected standards in reading, writing and maths at the end of Year 2 and Year 6, and that teachers’ expectations of what pupils can achieve are too low.

It noted that the behaviour of a small number of pupils sometimes disrupted the learning of others as “some pupils disengage from learning”.

Funds for disadvantaged pupils were “not well spent”, inspectors found.

The report explained: “There has been little evaluation of the impact of the funding on disadvantaged pupils’ outcomes, which are significantly below those of other pupils nationally in reading, writing and mathematics.”

Pupils’ attendance is also below national levels, particularly that of those who are disadvantaged.

However, the report recognised that the school had been through a “considerable disruption in leadership” and that this “turbulence has contributed to the school’s decline”.

The many changes in approach for teachers, parents and pupils, and frequent changes in staff and staff absences have stalled the school’s efforts to improve, inspectors said.

Despite the ‘inadequate’ rating, inspectors were optimistic about the work of new headteacher Karen Venner: “The new headteacher has communicated her vision clearly to staff, parents and pupils.

“Pupils said that the school is now a more orderly environment.

“Staff are eager to contribute to the next stage in the school’s development. Recently appointed staff are keen to accelerate pupils’ progress.”

Ofsted also acknowledged that safeguarding at the school was effective.

Headteacher Karen Venner responded to the damning report saying that the school was “obviously disappointed”.

She continued: “the report confirms my own assessment of what areas require improvement at Chesterton and I am committed to leading a programme of changes.”

Gloucestershire County Council’s head of education performance and intervention Jane Lloyd-Davies said: "We will continue to give the school all the support they need throughout this process.

"We are working closely with the headteacher, staff and board of governors to make sure there is a clear plan in place. This will ensure the quality of teaching and, most importantly, the rate of pupil progress increases as soon as possible.”