Wolverhampton school set to double in size is downgraded by Ofsted

Building work is due to start in September at Dunstall Hill Primary School as part of a £13 million plan to extend three schools in Wolverhampton.

The scheme was brought in by Wolverhampton City Council in an effort to cope with a soaring demand for primary school places in the city.

But the 210-pupil school in Dunstall Avenue, Whitmore Reans, was given a grade three rating of 'requires improvement' after a visit from the education watchdog on June 17 and 18.

In her report lead inspector Morag Kophamel criticised teaching at the school as having slowed pupil progress and pointed the finger at governors for being unclear about roles and responsibilities.

She wrote: "The quality of teaching is not good. Too much requires improvement and too little is outstanding.

"Not enough pupils make good progress from their individual starting points."

She added achievement was restricted by teachers failing to pitch work suited to different ability levels.

The report also said pupil behaviour was not good, noting that a small number of pupils, parents and staff are concerned about the poor behaviour of a few pupils.

"The school's work to keep pupils safe and secure requires improvement," the lead inspector added.

However the report also noted that attendance at the school was praised as having 'improved considerably' while it said some areas of good practice in teaching could be shared and developed across the school.

The inspection formed part of a wave of spot checks of the city's primary education provision.

Dunstall Hill eadteacher Bethan Francis retired earlier this year and was replaced by her former deputy Diane Elcock, who took on the role of acting head.

The school had previously been rated as 'good' in its last inspection in July 2009.

It was selected to be extended by the authority because it falls in an area of particularly high demand for school places.

The additional buildings will allow capacity to grow from 210 to 420 pupils in the coming years.

Trinity CE Primary School in Heath Town and Fallings Park Primary School are also in line to be expanded as part of the scheme.

Earlier this year it emerged pupils in some schools in the city may be taught in temporary classrooms due to a chronic shortage of primary school places.