A village primary school in Cambridgeshire has been rated ‘inadequate’ at its latest Ofsted inspection.

Inspectors rated the effectiveness of leadership as ‘inadequate’ in a report published today.

Quality of teaching, personal development, behaviour and welfare, outcomes of pupils and early learning provision all ‘require improvement’, according to the report.

The report goes on to say that ‘Leaders and governors depend too much on the school’s culture of trust without putting in place systematic and secure safeguarding procedures’ and that ‘the most able pupils are not challenged enough’. It also says that ‘a few parents have become frustrated with the school, and have lost faith in the effectiveness of the leadership team’.

“Staff do not have high enough expectations and do not implement policies consistently,” said the report.

“Too many areas of the school are cluttered, untidy and dull. The school uniform policy is ineffectively implemented.”

However, inspectors – who visited the school on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 22 and 23 – did highlight that pupils’ attainment has risen this year, and that ‘most pupils are happy and well cared for’. They also note that ‘children settle well into reception and develop good attitudes to learning’.

Headteacher Judy Goldsmith has been off sick since September and Rachael Schofield and Sue Brown have been acting as joint interim heads.

In a joint statement, they said: “We were pleased that inspectors recognised the rise in pupil attainment and that pupils in reception developed good attitudes to learning. However, we are naturally disappointed with the overall judgement and are working hard to address the issues raised in the report.

“Since the inspection, Cambridgeshire County Council has carried out a full review of the overall effectiveness of the school as well as a review of the school’s safeguarding procedures. We want children to have the very best opportunities at our school and we are fully committed to fixing these problems.

“We are working closely with staff, governors, parents and the county council to put in place approaches that can make the school an environment where children thrive.”

A spokesman for the county council added: “We are always concerned when a school enters into special measures. However, we are fully supporting the school to help it progress and address the report’s findings.

“Two experienced, successful headteachers from a local school are now supporting the school, and a local authority action plan is now in place. We are confident the school will soon be providing the quality of education children and their parents expect and deserve.”

The school was rated ‘good’ at its previous inspection in 2011.

To read the report in full, click here.