A PRIMARY school in Greater Leys has been placed in special measures after an inspection rated it as inadequate in all areas.

Windale Community Primary School was criticised for not reaching Government standards of teaching or behaviour.

The report was released last week after inspectors from watchdog Ofsted visited the Dunnock Way school in January.

It said: “Typically, teaching does not help pupils to understand their work. As a result, pupils often become bored or give up because they do not understand. Standards are low in almost all classes across the school.”

In Year 1, for five and six-year-old pupils, just three out of 57 pupils reached the expected standard. Other year groups were also “significantly below the national average”.


Our top stories


 

The report also criticised how there was no consistency with how teachers disciplined pupils’ “unacceptable” behaviour and how teachers taught basic skills, such as reading and writing.

It said: “Leaders have not created a culture of good teaching and behaviour.

“Leaders, including the trustees, have not done enough to make sure that the school has improved enough since becoming an academy.”

One of the biggest problems was lack of staffing, with some teachers starting as recently as the week before the inspection.

Inspectors “strongly” recommended that the school did not employ any newly qualified teachers.

They said: “There are not enough examples of good and outstanding teaching in the school which newly qualified teachers can learn.”

The school became part of the Blackbird Academy Trust in 2013, which also manages the estate’s other primary schools, Pegasus and Orchard Meadow. Orchard Meadow has been in special measures since 2012, while Pegasus was rated good in 2013.

Trustees include staff from the Dragon School in North Oxford, charity Family Links and the Hamilton Trust.

As well as changes on the teaching staff Jill Hudson, executive director of the trust, took over as the school’s acting head in October.

While the report said Mrs Hudson had taken “rapid” steps to rectify things, inspectors said it was too early to see any improvement in teaching or pupil results.

Trustees spokesman Ian Caws said: “The senior leadership team and trustees recognise the significant challenges to be overcome.

“We remain totally committed to ensuring the best possible start to their education for all children in the academy across the Leys.”