A RECENT Ofsted inspection has judged Walmore Primary School as requiring special measures.

Staff at the small school, based at Minsterworth, says they are committed to driving up standards with the help from Gloucestershire County Council.

Ofsted inspectors acknowledged that there was some good teaching that helps pupils achieve well in some areas, and that support for disabled children and those with special educational needs was good.

However, the school needs to do more to improve overall standards. Some areas for improvement included: the quality of teaching and speeding up pupils' progress, leadership and management, raising standards and improving pupils' standards, specifically in mathematics, and improving governors' skills and knowledge in analysing information on pupils' progress and how it compares to schools nationally.

Ofsted praised the school for improving attendance standards and for ensuring safeguarding standards were met.

Headteacher Sue Meek said: "The school is very disappointed with the result of the Ofsted inspection, but we are determined to rise to the challenge. We have already begun to make changes and are implementing recommendations from the report. The staff are dedicated, enthusiastic and will continue to raise standards and provide pupils with a high standard of education."

Chair of governors, Steve Dailey said: "The governing body continues to work closely with the senior leadership team to develop a detailed action plan that focuses on raising standards and will encourage pupils to follow the school's motto to 'Be the best you can be'."

Jane Lloyd-Davies, head of education performance and intervention at Gloucestershire County Council, said: "We will continue to give the school all the support necessary to enable it to tackle the areas identified as needing further improvement by Ofsted. A project team is working closely with the headteacher, staff and governors to ensure their improvement plan is robust and is effective in driving up the rate of pupil progress."