A SCHOOL has been told to improve by Ofsted.

Inspectors from the education watchdog visited Our Lady and St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School, in Eccleshill, in October and rated it as ‘requires improvement’ overall and in each individual area.

This was the rating the school received in 2017, though its early years provision at that point was judged to be good.

The report says: “Leaders have not improved the quality of teaching quickly enough since the last inspection to help all pupils to achieve well.

“The new headteacher is taking steps to make the necessary improvements.

“There have been many changes in leadership since the last inspection. There have been different temporary headteachers.

“Some governors resigned when the last temporary headteacher left. This turbulence in senior leadership arrangements slowed down the rate of improvement.

“New leaders have ambitious plans for improving the curriculum.”

The report says the new headteacher has made “lots of changes” since September - which parents and carers are pleased with.

“There are new rules about how pupils should behave,” says the report.

“Pupils enjoy coming to school more now that everyone behaves well on the playground.

“Pupils do not have any concerns about bullying. If any problems arise, leaders deal with them quickly. Many pupils now behave well in lessons, but some do not. Leaders are working hard to help everyone behave well.

“Some other leaders also started in September. They have already made lots of changes to the way pupils learn to read.

“Governors have spent extra money buying lots of new resources. Pupils really enjoy all the new reading books.”

The report says the teaching of mathematics has improved, but the curriculum is not as well planned in some subjects.

“Leaders are training teachers to develop the subject knowledge needed to teach all subjects well,” says the report.

It adds: “Pupils cannot remember what they have learned about different faiths or the beliefs that others may hold.

“This means that pupils are not as well prepared as they should be for life in modern Britain.”

While most pupils are said to behave well in lessons, this is not always the case. The report says some teachers are good are helping pupils to calm down and leaders are “working hard” to help all teachers improve the skills.

The report praises a “strong culture of safeguarding” at the school.

To improve, the school has been told to ensure all teachers have the necessary skills to help pupils with special educational needs and disabilities achieve well.

The report adds: “Some teachers do not have consistently high expectations of pupils. Leaders should ensure that teachers deal with poor behaviour in line with the school’s policy so that pupils’ learning is not hampered by disruption in lessons.”

Headteacher Julie Morris said the school is one with "great potential" and it is on a journey to improve.

She said: "While we know there is long way to go, we are confident that the building blocks are being put in place for a positive future.

We are pleased that the inspectors have recognised we are heading in the right direction and that they had many positive comments to make about our ambitious plans.

"The support from pupils, parents, staff and the wider community has been wonderful since I arrived and I am confident that by continuing to work hard together, our school can go from strength to strength.”