Teachers have vowed to "rapidly improve standards" of Bovington Primary School after it was rated as inadequate by Ofsted in a report published this week.

The school had previously received three consecutive ‘outstanding’ Ofsted inspections.

However, the latest report rated Bovington Primary as inadequate, the lowest grade the education watchdog can give.

The inspection was carried out in October and the full report and its findings was published on December 10, with inspectors placing the school into special measures.

In this report, the school’s effectiveness of leadership and management, the outcomes for its pupils and the quality of its teaching, learning and assessment were all rated inadequate.

Early years provision and personal development, behaviour and welfare were given a grade of ‘requires improvement’.

Ofsted said: “Since the last inspection, there have been significant changes to the school, including transition from a first school to a primary school.

“During this time, leaders, including governors, have not maintained the outstanding quality of education for pupils.”

The report condemned that the actions of senior leaders to tackle the school’s weaknesses has been “inconsistent” and that leaders “have not ensured that disadvantaged pupils make the progress they should.”

It also said: “The governing body does not have the knowledge, skills and understanding required to hold leaders to account for the quality of teaching or pupils’ outcomes.”

Ofsted did concede that the school has some strengths, including the school’s arrangements to keep pupils safe, the range of subjects and experiences available on the school’s curriculum and the happiness and attendance of pupils.

Kris Winthorpe, headteacher of Bovington Primary School, said: “We’re disappointed that our school has been put into special measures.

“We recognise that we have to rapidly improve outcomes for our pupils through stronger teaching and have already introduced new measures to address this.

“I’d like to reassure parents that myself, staff and governors are all deeply committed to making the necessary changes.

“We have a robust action plan and are confident that we can rapidly improve our standards.”

With the support of Dorset County Council, the school says that it is making improvements the areas that Ofsted has highlighted, including:

• Leadership and management

• Quality of teaching and learning

• Pupils’ behaviour

The school also needs to focus on raising outcomes for pupils, particularly for the most able and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

The full report is available at https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/21/113680