BRADFORD Council’s efforts to help a primary school improve have been “woeful,” according to an inspector.

Earlier this year Ofsted inspectors judged Grove House Primary School to require improvement in a report that criticised school leadership, outcomes for pupils and teaching quality.

This week Ofsted inspectors, who recently took part in a follow up visit, published a strongly worded letter criticising efforts to turn the school around.

The council said it has "re-categorised" the school since the letter, increasing the amount of support it is offering.

As well as claiming the school’s own checks on teaching were “weak” the letter, by Ofsted inspector Phil Smith, says: “The local authority support is woeful and ineffective.

“Local authority officers have avoided difficult conversations with the school. They have not shared with leaders the concerns they have about the quality of teaching and weaknesses in the improvement plans. The checks the local authority has made on the progress the school is making are superficial and lack any genuine rigour or challenge.

“Weak external support has contributed to leaders having an over-inflated view of how well the school is doing.”

It says this overly optimistic view meant school leaders were “shocked and surprised” when the initial report was released, and that the current improvement plan was “confusing and muddled."

The letter, written to head Mick Hayes, said: "You and other staff I spoke with felt shocked and surprised that the school requires improvement for a second time. Most, but not all, staff and governors have accepted the inspection findings. Some have found it harder to accept."

Judith Kirk, the council’s Deputy Director of Education, Employment and Skills said: “We are disappointed with Ofsted’s findings. The council works hard to ensure we have a successful track record in providing support and challenge to schools across the district where it is needed.

“Our school improvement service is working with staff and governors at Grove House Primary to bring about the necessary improvements. The school improvement service has re-categorised the school and increased the amount of support and challenge provided.

“The school leaders and governors are being monitored and held to account for the impact of the initiatives and strategies they are putting in place to improve leadership, teaching, learning and standards.”

Mr Hayes said: “A rigorous action plan was put in place immediately following the visit.

“The school is receiving support from the local authority and is working closely with other schools with the expectation of rapid impact from the measures that have been put in place.

“Governors, leaders, teachers and the local authority are working energetically to ensure swift and effective improvement so that children achieve all they can at our school.”