A BLACKBURN school has slumped from being one of the best in the town to requiring improvement according to Ofsted.

Roe Lee Park Primary School has lost its ‘outstanding’ grading which it was awarded in 2012 following a recent inspection.

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The Emerald Avenue school has been told to improve its leadership, teaching, the pupil’s outcomes and the early years provision by the education watchdog.

It was however praised for the personal development, behaviour and welfare of the pupils.

Lead inspector Jean Olsson-Law said: “Leaders have not sustained the high performance reported at the last inspection.

“Pupils’ outcomes require improvement. Progress is too variable across subjects and year groups.

“Too many pupils have writing skills that are below the standard expected for their age because key writing skills are not taught systematically from the early years onwards.

“Most pupils achieve average standards in mathematics and reading.

“However, a below average proportion of pupils achieve higher standards in these subjects at the end of Year Two and Year Six.”

Teaching and marking were said to need improvement in years one to four.

The inspector added that senior leaders know what needs to improve and that they have created a happy and harmonious community where the pupils feel safe and staff are highly motivated.

Head teacher Mark Geldard said: “We are obviously disappointed with the outcome our latest Ofsted report, but we have to accept the judgement of the inspectors. The report did contain a great deal of praise.

“We are completely committed to making improvements quickly.

“We are very clear on what needs to improve and already taking steps to move forwards.

“We are confident we will do all we can to meet the challenge.

“Parents are being kept fully informed and I would like to thank them for their enthusiastic support for the school.

“I would like to reassure them that we are fully committed to providing the best possible education for our pupils.

“The report highlighted the ‘happy and harmonious community’ at the school and that our pupils feel safe and staff are highly motivated and work as a team.

“It also said school leadership was strong and children are sociable and well behaved.

“We are very proud of our school and will do all we can to make it the best we can for all our pupils.”