A primary school has been making significant improvements to its curriculum after receiving a 'requires improvement' rating in their latest Oftsed inspection.

Great Harwood St Bartholomew's Parish Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School was last inspected in 2015, when it was rated 'Good' by the government's department for standards in education.

However, on a return to the school in December, just three months after a new headteacher was appointed, inspectors found it had slipped in two key areas, including quality of education and leadership and management.

In the report, which was published in January, inspectors noted: "The curriculum is not coherently planned in several subjects and is under review.

"This means that, in most of the subjects beyond English and mathematics, pupils do not always know and remember what they should.

"The phonics curriculum is not systematically delivered across year groups, and pupils with special educational needs and disabilities have not always had their needs correctly identified and met."

However, the report recognised that new headteacher, Sarah Irvine, had quickly established the strengths and weaknesses of the school.

It was stated that Mrs Irvine was aware the quality of the curriculum in subjects other than English and mathematics had not been fully developed, and knew there was more to do to raise teachers’ expectations of what pupils could achieve across the whole curriculum.

The report went on to say: "As a result, the headteacher is in the process of leading staff through a review of the curriculum.

"She has developed detailed plans setting out how the curriculum will improve.

"She has reviewed the way that the school identifies and supports pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and in a matter of weeks, the person responsible for pupils with SEND has put plans in place to improve the support that these pupils receive."

In November 2018 a new chair of governors was elected for the school and Ofsted inspectors recognised that these governors had managed a period of instability in leadership well.

They also noted that fair support had been given to the new headteacher and the rigour she was currently implementing within the school.

Mrs Irvine said: "The leadership team and governors have an accurate view of the school's current position, and we are committed to improving the direction and management of the school and have already put focussed plans in place to ensure that this happens.

"I was appointed in September, and the inspection took place in early December.

"The inspectors recognised that the school had experienced a difficult period, but that rapid improvements had already been made since my appointment.

"The report did contain much praise including that pupils enjoy their time at our school, and describe it as 'one big happy family', saying that 'everyone in school cares that you do well.'

"Teachers have high expectations for pupils in reading, writing and maths and pupils achieve well in these subjects and reading outcomes at KS2 are above national averages.

"We have developed a long-term improvement action plan to address the issues that have been identified.

"Parents are being kept fully informed and I'd like to reassure them that we are fully committed to providing the best education we can for our pupils."