Pupils 'uninspired' at 'inadequate' primary school

Ofsted raised concerns about "ever-shifting" leadership at the school

A Reading primary school where some pupils had eight different teachers in a single term is leaving children "uninspired", Ofsted said.

St Mary and All Saints C of E Primary School has been rated "inadequate" for the second time in three years.

Ofsted said the school "floundered" due to the "insufficient impact" of Reading Borough Council and the Diocese of Oxford.

Reading Borough Council said it had taken measures to improve the school.

High staff turnover and an "ever-shifting" leadership were cited by the education watchdog to "mean that there is no compelling momentum for change".

Pupils in Year 1 at the 410-pupil school, in Wensley Road, Coley Park, had eight different teachers one term last year, Ofsted found.

Inspectors said some pupils felt "uncomfortable" due to their teachers "always changing", with one saying: "My teacher doesn't always give me enough to do as they don't know me well enough."

Recruitment struggle

The inspection found about one third of pupils reached the expected standard for their age in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of key stage 1.

Reading council put in place "consultant" headteacher Marion Standing after interim head Margaret Bainbridge resigned in October, following two years in charge.

The report said Ms Bainbridge and the school's deputy headteacher had been "keen to improve", but added "this energy is not harnessed, managed or led effectively".

In Ofsted's annual report released earlier, the watchdog warned of a hard core of persistently underachieving schools in England which struggle to recruit teachers and keep head teachers.

Tony Jones, Reading's lead councillor for education, said: "I would like to reassure parents that every effort is being made by the council and diocese to turn this school around and I hope to see signs of improvement as soon as possible."