CHERRY Orchard Primary School has been put into special measures after inspectors rated the school inadequate.

Inspectors gave a damning assessment of the school saying standards were "not good enough" and that leaders had spent too long "justifying the low standards" instead of identifying the problems.

The report means the school will now be forced to become a sponsored academy.

It said: “Standards and the progress pupils make in reading, writing and mathematics are not good enough.

“Teachers’ approaches to learning and assessment place little emphasis on the importance of correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.They do not identify pupils’ errors and misconceptions."

In a further blow, the report added: "Leaders spend too much time justifying low standards and progress as issues at the expense of identifying the root causes of underachievement in school. Governors accept too readily leaders’ reports on why standards and progress are low.”

A parent of three pupils at the school said about the report: “It is shocking. They have failed our children.”

However, the report also recognised that the pupils have positive attitudes to learning, are kept safe and bullying is rare.

Staff from the school, in Timberdine Close, said they were disappointed by the report.

Di Smith, interim head teacher and Lee Card, deputy head teacher said “OFSTED recognised the behaviour and attitudes of our pupils as positive and drew attention to the personal development of pupils at our school.

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“They were also very clear that our safeguarding arrangements are effective and that leaders put the safety of our pupils at the heart of all we do.

“We are, however, very disappointed with the overall outcome of the report – a grading of ‘Inadequate’ and one which now places the school in ‘Special Measures’.

”The staff and Governing Body are totally committed to working with parents and the Local Authority to successfully carry out the improvements that are required.”

The inspection took place in January.