A PRIMARY school near Chard has been put into 'special measures' after the publication of an inadequate Ofsted report this morning.

Winsham Primary School was rated as 'inadequate' across all areas in the report, which was published earlier today (November 1).

A spokesman for the school said it has already taken steps to improve after receiving the ranking.

Heather Burnett, the school’s recently appointed chairman of governors, said: “Everyone  involved with Winsham is clearly disappointed with the report and there is a real commitment to moving the school forward.

“Most of the issues raised in this report had already been identified, with actions or plans in place to address them.

"The emphasis will now be on pulling together to see those plans through and taking the school forward.

“The school is very proud of its pupils and staff and the wider school community, and we will be working together to build on our strengths and address areas where we need to improve.”

Ofsted inspected the school in September and the resulting report highlights its effective safeguarding arrangements; the pride that parents have in the school and the new Chair of Governors’ clear understanding of what needs to be done to improve.

It also commends a curriculum that ‘includes the full range of subjects and an appropriate range of experiences for pupils’, and the school’s approach to physical education as well as children’s social, moral, spiritual and cultural development.

However, the report identifies weaknesses in the monitoring of pupil progress, the role played by school governors, teaching standards and evaluation of teaching, and intervention and support for children who are persistently absent.

Teaching quality needs to improve as well as the effectiveness of leadership and management. Steps also need to be taken to improve the behaviour and welfare of pupils.

The overall effectiveness of the school is deemed inadequate and it has therefore been put into ‘Special Measures’.

A spokesman for the school added: "Winsham Primary School is already taking steps to address the challenges highlighted in a disappointing Ofsted report published today.

"Although disappointed with the report, which has judged the school to be inadequate, Winsham is confident that work is already underway to make the improvements that are needed.

"The school has brought in additional leadership support in the form of an experienced Headteacher, Sandra Leggett – Headteacher of Avishayes Primary School, to lead the drive for improvement.

"It has already reviewed its teaching timetables to ensure that enough time is given to the teaching of reading, writing and maths; reviewed its spending of the Pupil Premium funding and set challenging targets for all pupils to work towards over this academic year."

Because the school's overall effectiveness has been rated as inadequate, Winsham has been put into ‘Special Measures’. This means it will become part of a Multi-Academy Trust.

Details of the arrangements are yet to be finalised, but it will allow the school to benefit from support from other high-performing schools and good practice.

The full Ofsted inspection report can be found here: http://reports.ofsted.gov.uk.