THE headteacher of a Kidderminster primary school has said she is “extremely disappointed” after the school was placed in special measures by Ofsted.

Inspectors visited St George’s CE Primary School, in Birmingham Road, in January and rated the school “inadequate”. The new report is a far cry from its previous rating of “good” in 2012.

The report stated that the school’s leaders and governors have not ensured that safeguarding procedures in the school are effective and that leaders have not ensured that staff training in safeguarding is adequate.

It added: “School policies and procedures related to safeguarding are not fit for purpose. Systems for recording concerns about vulnerable pupils are chaotic and do not allow for accurate tracking of any action that is required or taken.

“Procedures for ensuring that staff appointed to the school are suitable do not meet statutory government requirements.

“School improvement planning does not focus on the most important priorities for the school.

“The school curriculum is not well planned to ensure that pupils make good progress across all subjects.

“The quality of teaching is inconsistent. As a result, outcomes for pupils, particularly the most able, require improvement.”

Despite the damning report, the school was praised for its lively, attractive and conductive to learning environment, and that the needs of disadvantaged pupils are well addressed due to effective use of the pupil premium funding.

Rachel Bevan, St George’s headteacher, said: “I am extremely disappointed with the outcome of the recent Ofsted inspection, particularly with reference to safeguarding.

“This has impacted negatively on all of the judgements made and the school’s overall effectiveness.

“Rigorous actions are being taken to further improve safeguarding at St George’s.

“A robust action plan is in place to address key findings and by working in partnership with the school community and the local authority, I am confident that we have steps in place to improve outcomes for all pupils.”

She added: “This school remains committed to developing capable, confident young people who can go on to play a positive role in the wider world.

“I am pleased that some of the strengths of the school have been recognised by the Ofsted team, together with the work school leaders have already undertaken which has led to school improvement. There has been a trend of improved attainment in reception, year one phonics results and key stage two SATS results.

“I would like to thank the staff for their hard work and their commitment to improving outcomes for our pupils.

“I am proud of all of the children and the positive attitude they have towards their learning. To quote Ofsted ‘pupils are caring and considerate individuals, who support each other and taken on responsibility’.”

The school has been told it can improve by improving safeguarding as a matter of urgency.

It also should improve leadership and management, the quality of teaching so that it is consistently good, teaching so that it is at least good in the early years provision and provision for pupils’ personal development, behaviour and welfare.