An Exmouth primary school previously rated 'good' has been told it 'requires improvement' after an Ofsted inspection.

Littleham Church of England Primary School, in Littledown Close, has been rated as 'requires improvement' in all five criteria - effectiveness of leadership and management; quality of teaching, learning and assessment; personal development, behaviour and welfare; outcomes for pupils; and early years provision.

The Ofsted report was published today (Tues) after an inspection on June 18 and 19.

Littleham CofE Primary School is part of the Pebblebed Heath Federation and key issues highlighted by the inspection team included:

• Standards pupils have reached as they leave the school have not been good enough with leaders and governors slow to react to the decline

• Progress rates for disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and disabilities are too variable in reading, writing and maths

• Leaders' plans to improve the school are not 'sharp enough' and, as a result, improvement is 'not as brisk as it should be'

• Some subjects are not taught in enough depth, so pupils do not build sufficient subject-specific knowledge and skills to prepare them for the next stage of their education

• The quality of teaching and learning varies too much, inconsistent teaching means pupils do not make as much progress, particularly in maths

• Teachers' expectations of pupils' attitudes to learning are not high enough and as a result there is low-level disruption in some lessons

• Children in the early years are not sufficiently challenged to reach their full potential

• Phonics teaching is not consistently good, hampering children's progress

• Leaders' work to improve attendance and reduce persistent absence has not been successful

Inspectors found that since the last full inspection in 2014 'the quality of teaching, learning and assessment declined'. And following a short inspection in May 2018: "Senior leaders and governors have not secured improvement in all of the areas identified as priorities for improvement. As a result, long-standing weaknesses continue to exist."

The inspection report published today states: "Historically, some pupils have not made sufficient progress from their starting points, particularly in reading and mathematics. In mathematics, pupils are not catching up with their peers quickly enough.

"Leaders are dedicated and fully committed to improvement, but their actions have not had a strong enough impact on the progress that pupils make.

"Leaders have not developed a curriculum that is rich and varied.

"Although there is a well-thought-out curriculum for some subjects, such as science, it is not broad enough for all subjects. It does not give pupils opportunities to build systematically on prior knowledge or to develop necessary skills across all subjects.

"Governors have not been effective in securing good outcomes for pupils. Minutes of meetings held by governors indicate that too much focus has been placed upon future plans for the federation.

"Governors have not ensured that leaders'evaluation and strategic planning to bring about improvements have been effective enough.

"This has hampered school improvement.

"More recently, the chair of governors identified that the structure of the governing body was not effective.

"As a result, the governing body is currently being restructured to enable governors to have an all-round holistic view of the quality of education."

The report says the recently-appointed executive headteacher Katie Gray has 'quickly established a secure understanding of the strengths and areas of the school that require further improvement' and plans are underway to improve the quality of teaching.

"However, the plans for improvement she inherited are not rigorous or specific enough to secure strong outcomes for pupils," it adds.

Inspectors also found school leaders ensure that equality of opportunity is at the forefront of their decision-making and often provide schooling for pupils who have not been able to settle in other settings.

"While at times this has caused disruption to daily routines, leaders are determined to meet all pupils' needs," it adds.

The report points out a series of strengths including a significant number of parents having positive views of the school, the teaching of reading having improved, the 'nurture hub' being effective in supporting vulnerable pupils and leaders promoting the school's Christian values well.

Inspectors identified a long list of required improvements embracing the quality of leadership and management, outcomes for all groups of pupils, personal development, behaviour and well-being of pupils, quality of teaching, learning and assessment and early years.

Exmouth Nub News has contacted Littleham CofE Primary School and is awaiting a response to the report.