A PRIMARY school in Merton has been deemed ‘inadequate’ in all areas in a report published this week by independent education inspectors.

Ofsted inspectors have ruled that The Clinton Church of England Primary School needs special measures after they found the overall effectiveness of the school had declined since the previous inspection four years ago in which it was rated ‘good’.

The new leader of the school has this week outlined a comprehensive action plan to bring about major improvements.

Inspectors concluded that the high turnover of teaching staff and lack of leadership capacity had derailed school improvement.

The school was said to be inadequate in its quality of teaching, effectiveness of leadership and management, pupils’ outcome and curriculum.

Teachers’ assessment of pupils’ learning was inaccurate. Consequently, work set did not match pupils’ needs and abilities.

Governors had failed to hold senior leaders to account and had not fulfilled all of their statutory duties, including safeguarding.

Leaders had not used the additional funding for disadvantaged pupils and those who had special educational needs and/or disabilities effectively.

‘The most able pupils did not receive the challenge they needed. Consequently, their progress stalled and they did not meet the higher standards they were capable of.’

It was also reported that leaders and managers had failed to create a safe environment for pupils, the early years provision was inadequate and that the curriculum was too narrow.

However, it was concluded that the pupils’ outcomes in reading were improving, pupils’ standards of presentation and handwriting had improved, leaders’ self-evaluation was accurate and that external support had raised teachers expectations.

Former headteacher of St Helen’s at Abbotsham, Zoe Batten has taken over as executive head of the school this term in a new management partnership and met parents last week to discuss how she intends to turn the school around in light of the Ofsted report.

Mrs Batten took over at St Helen’s school five years ago when it was rated as a ‘satisfactory’ school and the latest judgement by Ofsted is that it is ‘good with outstanding features’. Inspectors said Mrs Batten was a ‘very effective’ head.

A new deputy head has been appointed to strengthen the leadership of The Clinton Church of England Primary and a new teacher has joined the staff following the departure of the former executive head and another teacher.

Mrs Batten said current staff are receiving high quality support from the North Devon Teaching School Alliance to improve their subject knowledge and skills.

Mrs Batten said the school’s safeguarding was a key priority for improvement and it had already been subject to a full external review by the school improvement service, Babcock.

Procedures had been given a complete overhaul. Staff were undergoing compre-hensive training and a new deputy leader for safeguarding had been appointed.

Mrs Batten said: ‘Until recently the overall effectiveness of this school was judged as good by Ofsted and I intend to ensure it returns to good as quickly as possible.

‘Over the coming weeks and months we are putting in place measures to improve the quality of education and safeguarding for all our children.

‘We will swiftly improve their outcomes, raise aspirations and extend the opportunities they can enjoy.’