Last updated 16:59, Wednesday, 01 October 2008

OUGHTERSIDE Primary School near Aspatria has been placed in special measures after failing its Ofsted inspection in July.

The inspector's concerns at Oughterside centred on pupils not being met off the school bus and a failure to complete paperwork surrounding Criminal Records Bureau checks.

Cumbria County Council stressed that Ofsted's criticisms were not centred on pupil attainment, as Oughterside's unvalidated SAT results for Key Stages 1 and 2 showed that the school outperformed both Cumbrian and national averages in KS1 reading, writing and maths and KS2 English, KS2 level five-plus maths and KS2 level four-plus science.

Parents of pupils at the school were this week informed of an improvement plan in response to the failed inspection.

The Ofsted inspector had reported that the progress of individual pupils must be improved, and the school was not meeting statutory health and safety standards for safeguarding its children; a failure that means a school is automatically put into an Ofsted ‘must improve’ category.

The school and Cumbria County Council said this week that they had taken immediate and effective action.

A full health and safety audit has been undertaken and new measures included fully updating all criminal records paperwork, a new system for meeting children off the bus and supervising children before the start of the school day, and training for all staff in child protection.

Nick Sutton, Oughterside Primary School headteacher, said: “We were already addressing many of the issues raised prior to inspection.

“Since then we've been working extensively with the local authority and are pleased with the support being offered.”

“We are working hard to resolve the issues identified so there will be positive outcomes at the earliest possible opportunity."Cumbria County Council said it was actively intervening with an improvement programme.

A local authority statement of support will be delivered to Ofsted by the end of this week.

Peter McGaw, Cumbria County Council's principal school improvement officer, said: “I am disappointed that Oughterside has been placed in special measures, but am confident the school will be able to address the key issues to achieve the best results for pupils.

“I am confident that the school will be out of special measures by the end of this academic year.”

The programme being introduced at the school involves school improvement officers and consultants visiting regularly to monitor progress and offer advice.

Oughterside is the only primary school in Cumbria in special measures.