MEADOWHEAD Infant School in Blackburn has been rated as “requires improvement” after an Ofsted inspection.

The result of the inspection last month sees the school drop a grade from “good” received at its last inspection four years ago.

In his report, lead inspector Robert Birtwell said: “By the end of year two, pupils’ standards in reading, writing and mathematics are not to a high enough standard.

MORE TOP STORIES:

“Teaching has not ensured that pupils have made consistently good progress over time across the school.

“Expectations of what pupils can achieve are not always high enough, and the work set is not always challenging enough.

“Pupils are not always given clear enough guidance in teachers’ marking about what they need to do to improve their work and there are too few checks to make sure that pupils respond to this advice when it is given.

“Pupils do not have enough opportunity to write in different styles in different subjects.

“Governors have not always held the school to account as effectively as they should.”

However, Mr Birtwell also identified the strengths.

He said: “Pupils’ behaviour and safety are good. They have positive attitudes to learning, and feel safe and well cared for in school.

“Pupils who are most in need, disabled pupils and those with special educational needs are well supported in a caring and nurturing environment.

“School leaders, including governors, have an accurate view of what the school needs to do to improve, and are working well to bring this about as quickly as possible.”