Work is underway to tackle the issues raised in a challenging Ofsted Inspection report, the headteacher of Othery Village School has said.

Othery Village School's latest Ofsted report was published on Friday (January 24), and does not make for comfortable reading for parents, with the school being rated as 'inadequate'.

Headteacher Chris Rutland underlined the school’s commitment to delivering an improvement plan brought in at the start of this term which includes reviews of the curriculum and behaviours policies, a clear focus on improving key subjects such as English and Maths and boosting staff skills.

The school is also aiming to improve support for children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) to enable them to have access to the same lessons as their fellow students.

Mr Rutland said: “The report is disappointing, but we are now focusing firmly on how we can improve Othery Village School so that students achieve their best, behave well and are happy and safe.

“We understand our weaknesses and believe that our detailed action plan will make a real difference.

"I know that the whole school community is pulling in the same direction and that students, teachers, parents and governors will be working together to take the school forward.”

Ofsted inspectors said the quality of education pupils were receiving at the school was inadequate, and that the school was suffering from a lack of stability, having had four headteachers in as many years.

The inspectors also highlighted problems with the curriculum, stating: "Teachers teach the subject content that they want in an unsystematic way.

"Pupils in mixed-age classes repeat work that they have already completed the previous year.

"For example, in modern foreign languages, pupils in Year 6 do the same work that they did in Year 5.

"Pupils do not build their knowledge and skills in a coherent way to help them remember what they have learned."

Mr Rutland said an action plan was being put in place to address the issues raised, but was pleased the inspectors recognised that early years teaching was effective, as was the school's safeguarding arrangements.