A SCHOOL has been told to make improvements after inspectors found the progress children made in reading at Key Stage Two was in the bottom 10 per cent nationally.

Ofsted rated Rosewood Primary School in Burnley as ‘requires improvement’ after standards in reading, writing and maths were found to be ‘too variable’ from 2013 to 2015 with outcomes dipping further in 2016.

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Inspectors said disadvantaged pupils at the school, which was rated ‘good’ at a previous inspection, do not perform as well as others nationally.

They said the school, which has a higher than average proportion of disadvantaged pupils and those with special needs, had been through a ‘turbulent’ two years, however a new headteacher was appointed last month and she has ‘an accurate overview of the weaknesses within the school’.

Former headteacher Ian McCann stepped down from his position last year after a row broke out when he travelled to Brazil for a charity bike challenge during term time.

The school was rated ‘good’ for personal development, behaviour and welfare and requires improvement for effectiveness of leadership, quality of teaching, outcomes for pupils and early years provision.

Headteacher Nerys Ditchburn Hughes said although the Rosewood Avenue school has experienced a difficult period, the situation has now ‘settled and improved’.

Lead inspector Sheila Iwaskow said: “The quality of teaching across the school is variable. Teachers’ expectations of what pupils can learn are not high enough.”

“Not all teachers follow the school marking policy. Opportunities to share best practice in the school are limited.

“Leaders and governors do not ensure that school plans and teachers’ targets are sharply focused on school priorities.”

“Some subject leaders of non-core subjects do not monitor their subject areas effectively, so they do not know how well pupils are doing.”

She praised the headteacher for being strongly focused on bringing about improvements and said governors are well aware of the school’s priorities and challenges that lie ahead.

She added progress in maths was good, the number of children reaching the expected standard in science was above average and behaviour of pupils is good.

Miss Hughes said progress is being made to make sure improvements happen quickly. She said: “As the inspectors recognised, the school has experienced a difficult period of late.”

“This situation has now settled and improved, including with my appointment as the new headteacher.”

“The leadership team is committed to improving the direction and management of the school even further and we have put focused plans in place to ensure that this happens.

“We are also working hard to make sure that staffing is consistent.”

She added the school is working with Lancashire County Council to develop a long-term improvement action plan to ensure they raise attainment.