INSPECTORS have judged a Herefordshire primary school ‘inadequate’ after a recent visit.

The Ofsted report said the quality of education, leadership and management at Bredenbury Primary School, near Bromyard, which previously had a ‘good’ rating, were inadequate, while pupil behaviour and personal development requires improvement.

“Pupils are attentive in the mornings, but some key stage two pupils find it hard to concentrate in the afternoons,” inspectors said following the October visit.

“They drift off task, chat and laugh, so staff have to spend time reminding them how to behave.”

Teaching standards were also criticised. Inspectors said a lack of clear plans in some subjects meant pupils do not learn all the right things, while in science, pupils were given incorrect, misleading advice.

“Mathematics is weak. Lessons in key stage 2 do not follow a sensible sequence and many pupils lack confidence in the subject. Work for the most able pupils is too easy and they mark time. On the other hand, pupils who do not understand something do not get the right guidance and teaching, so fall further behind,” the report said.

However, inspectors said reading and phonics teaching was well organised, and a nurturing environment helped pupils learn to be polite and kind.

The community feel and friendly care provided were also noted, and most pupils said they were happy at the school.

School governors said work on an improvement plan is underway, and a new maths scheme has been introduced.

“Bredenbury is looking to enlist the help of other local schools and a post-Ofsted plan has already been drafted,” chair of governors Kitty Edwards said.

“Ofsted are focusing on the curriculum, which was new from September. It takes time for the school to put into place and we weren’t as far down the line as they would have liked.

“We’ve accepted the judgment and already made great progress with two teacher training days at the beginning of this term.”