A PRIMARY school has been placed in special measures by the education watchdog after being judged inadequate overall in its first inspection.
Willow Park CofE Primary School in St Michael’s Hill formed in 2021 by the, amalgamation of St George’s and St Michael on the Mount CofE schools, has 117 pupils.
Two inspectors who visited for two days in March said the school’s quality of education, leadership and management and early years provision were inadequate.
They rated the pupils’ behaviour and attitudes and their personal development slightly better, as requiring improvement, and said arrangements for safeguarding were effective.
Their report said: “Pupils feel cared for and safe. They behave well and are courteous and kind. However, the curriculum is not ambitious enough and so pupils’ attitudes to learning are not always positive.”
The Ofsted team noted that the school has a large proportion of children who speak English as an additional language and acknowledged the work done to welcome new arrivals but said the curriculum was not adapted well enough to support them.
A spokesperson for Willow Park Primary School said: “We take these findings very seriously, and we are committed to taking immediate and decisive action to address the issues raised during the inspection.
“We have already begun developing a comprehensive improvement plan that focuses on enhancing teaching and learning practices, strengthening leadership and governance, and improving the overall educational experience for our students. This rating is not reflective of the dedication and hard work of our pupils, teachers, and staff members.”