A BLACKBURN headteacher has defended her school after Ofsted downgraded its rating and criticised pupils’ behaviour.

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour RC Primary School, Holmbrook Close, was criticised by inspectors who visited in March. They concluded that the school requires improvement.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The previous inspection, in 2011, saw the school graded good.

Following last month’s visit, lead inspector Louise Murphy said: “Leadership and management require improvement because the good quality of teaching and learning has not been maintained since the previous inspection.

“Targets set in plans for improving the school’s effectiveness are not yet closely linked to pupils’ progress or measurable enough to enable leaders to check if actions taken are having a positive impact.

“Staff have not had enough opportunities to observe outstanding practice in other settings. Governors have not consistently held leaders to account for standards at the school. Some pupils need regular prompts from adults to remind them to get on with their work, especially when activities do not challenge them effectively. This means that pupils’ behaviour requires improvement. The quality of teaching requires improvement.”

Mrs Murphy said that new head Martina Staffa is highly ambitious for every pupil in the school and is well supported by the acting deputy head.

Mrs Staffa said: “The inspectors acknowledged that the new senior leadership team is highly ambitious for every pupil and that the strategies that have been put in place are leading to an improvement in standards. We are aware of our starting position. We have effective plans to address the areas for improvement. We are confident that the school is moving forward rapidly.”