St Albans C of E Primary School rated 'inadequate' following Ofsted inspection

St Albans C of E Primary School, based in Ashmore Park, Wednesfield, was visited by Ofsted at the end of June this year, with a report into inspectors' findings published this week.

The report revealed that teachers, leaders and governors had 'failed to ensure pupils’ education did not suffer from the disruptions that occurred at the start of this academic year.'

It said that there had been 'difficulties in retaining and recruiting leaders and teachers led to a rapid decline in the quality of teaching and pupils’ progress.'

• READ the Ofsted report here

The report referred to the autumn term of 2016 which saw an 'exceptionally high turnover of staff' which inspectors said 'disrupted teaching and created large gaps in the management of an already difficult situation'.

Inspectors criticised teachers at the school to say that: "Teachers rarely check pupils’ progress during lessons effectively, and as a result they do not change pace or direction to ensure that all pupils make good progress.

"Too much teaching over the last year has been weak. Teachers have set work which is not securely based on pupils’ prior knowledge and understanding, and the least able pupils often struggle as a result."

However, inspectors had noted that the quality of teaching is improving even though new teachers 'may not be appointed until the school has a team of fully effective leaders' according to the report.

The report said: "Leaders have succeeded in re-establishing basic expectations for effective teaching and assessment. As a result, the quality of teaching is rising, especially at key stage 2. Inspectors observed some strengths in current classroom practice."

Pupils being absent from school is a problem though, according to inspectors.

The report said: "Recent initiatives have begun to reduce pupils’ absence, but attendance remains low."

Now, the school, which has 192 pupils between the ages of three and 11, has been placed in special measures and will be inspected again in six months.

The report concluded: "During this academic year, the large majority of teachers, including the head of school, have left.

"Some of the teachers who replaced them have recently accepted permanent positions in the school.

"An interim head of school took up her post in January 2017, and will leave at the end of the summer term.

"A new head of school will start in September, initially on a temporary basis."

In 2015 the school was closed for repair and refurbishment following an arson attack. The fire tore through the school on February 5 2015.

Reverend Nic Watson, the chair of governors at the school, and Helen Morris, the executive head, released a statement, saying: "St Alban’s went through a difficult time in the autumn term of 2016 with many staff changes.

"Since then governors and staff have worked hard to make improvements and this is recognised in the Ofsted report.

"A newly appointed head of school, Tina Dunkley, joined the staff this week and current staff and governors are working hard to secure the best possible outcomes for all the children at the school."