Fenland primary school placed in special measures after failing to satisfy Osfted inspection

By Maggie Gibson A FENLAND primary school is being placed in special measures because it is failing to give pupils an acceptable standard of education. Pupils at Gorefield Primary School are not achieving as well as they should do according to Ofsted ins

By Maggie Gibson

A FENLAND primary school is being placed in special measures because it is failing to give pupils an acceptable standard of education.

Pupils at Gorefield Primary School are not achieving as well as they should do according to Ofsted inspectors who visited the school in January

The inspection of the 109 pupil school was carried out while head teacher Katharine Bultitude was on maternity leave and under the leadership of an acting head.

Ofsted says "the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement.

"Leaders and managers have been slow to react to the issues identified for improvement at the time of the last inspection, especially in improving pupils' writing skills and increasing challenge for pupils of higher ability."

Inspectors say robust procedures to monitor the quality of teaching need to be implemented, work needs to challenge pupils, and there needs to be improvement in leadership and management at all levels.

The report said: "Pupils do not reach their full potential, especially those of high ability, because they are not challenged by work which stretches them."

Recent initiatives to help raise attainment in maths in Key Stage Two are showing some signs of success but inspectors said efforts in English are recent and it is too early to determine their impact.

However, the inspectors did comment on the good behaviour of pupils and how they show pride in what they do. They also have a good understanding of right and wrong and show respect and tolerance for their classmates.