A POPULAR school has been rated 'inadequate' and thrust into special measures after Ofsted criticised 'volatile' behaviour of pupils and a slew of staff changes.

Larkrise Primary School in East Oxford said it was 'surprised and disappointed' to have been given the watchdog's worst rating today, which means it will be forced to become an academy.

It disagreed with the new report and pledged to appeal it with support of Oxfordshire County Council, which runs the 445-pupil community school in Boundary Brook Road.

Larkrise was previously rated 'good' and maintained this at a check-up inspection just months ago, in February.

But concerns raised by the inspector at that point triggered a full inspection in May, which the school said clashed with SATs exams and a transition period between headteachers.

Ofsted's new report stated: "Significant changes of staff and leadership have hampered leaders’ efforts to make sustained and substantial improvement.

"This turbulence has been unsettling.

"The [county council] has not acted with sufficient haste to stem the decline in the school."

Larkrise was rated ‘inadequate’ in four out of five assessment areas but ‘good’ for early years provision, which was praised in the report.

According to Ofsted, 11 new teachers joined the school in September and the school's previous head left in December, leaving the deputy to step up.

The report pointed to 'unruly' behaviour in some classes, adding: "There continue to be a very high number of exclusions and incidents of very poor behaviour.

"Some pupils from different year groups told inspectors they sometimes feel unsafe because of the challenging and volatile behaviour of a number of pupils."

Of teaching, Ofsted wrote: "While there are pockets of strong practice, this is overshadowed by the high proportion of weak teaching."

It said a 'culture of low expectations' had also impacted pupils' progress.

The school has now been placed in special measures, meaning Ofsted has decided control must be passed to another organisation to guide improvements.

If the report is upheld despite the appeal, the school will have to become an academy and will be taken over by a multi-academy trust instead of the council.

In a statement released today, the school said the new Ofsted judgement 'does not describe the school that people in the community know and love'.

New headteacher Fi McGregor, who took up post this month, said leaders worked 'tirelessly' to tackle challenges caused by 'an unprecedented period of staff changes'.

She added: "The school has fantastic qualities, which include wonderful children, astonishing diversity, caring, warm relationships, a values-driven creative curriculum and a strong position at the heart of a supportive community.

"I feel surprised and very disappointed by the Ofsted judgement.

"I am determined to work with all stakeholders to swiftly move the school back up to a grading of good."

Richard Hadfield, co-chair of the school's governors, added: "98 per cent of parents fed back to Ofsted that their children are happy at Larkrise.

"Our pupil results have been consistently above government floor targets.

"Like many schools we have areas for improvement and our excellent new headteacher Ms McGregor has already begun addressing these, building on positive changes made since January under the leadership of acting head Miss Stewart."

A county council spokesperson said: "The content of the Ofsted feedback and subsequent judgement of inadequate does not reflect the quality of provision in the school, as evidenced in reports from a system leader providing school to school support, other head teachers and external consultants."

Governors and school leaders, with support of the council, said it was 'justified and necessary' to make an official complaint to Ofsted about inspectors' judgement.

School governor and county councillor Helen Evans said: "Parents in the local community are overwhelmingly positive about Larkrise.

"This a well-subscribed school with a reputation for being caring and values-focused.

"The school already has a plan of action in place to tackle issues caused by the staff changes over the past year and I know they will quickly demonstrate this to Ofsted when they reinspect."

Parents of two Larkrise pupils, who asked not to be named, said they were 'taken aback' by the report and added: "Both our children love the school and are happy there."

'INADEQUATE'

When a school is rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted it will be placed in one of two categories: 'serious weaknesses' or 'requiring special measures' - the latter being the more serious of the two.

The government will issue an academy order to a maintained (council-run) school judged as inadequate and the school will then become a sponsored academy.

Ofsted will not usually monitor the school unless there is a delay in the school finding a sponsor (multi-academy trust) to take it over.

If an academy is judged inadequate and placed in a category of concern, Ofsted will carry out regular monitoring inspections to check on progress.

According to the government's school comparison tool, these Oxfordshire schools are also currently rated 'inadequate':

- Orchard Meadow Primary School in Blackbird Leys

- Sandhills Community Primary School in Sandhills

- St Gregory the Great Catholic School in East Oxford

- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Carterton

- Wheatley CE Primary School in Wheatley

- Chiltern Edge Community School in Sonning Common, near Henley