SKIPTON’S Parish Church School has been rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted inspectors for the second time in a row.

Key findings were that the school’s performance in all subjects and at all key stages was well below the national average in 2018.

The report stated: “Leaders have been unable to secure consistent arrangement for teachers in all classes, which has slowed pupils’ progress.”.

It continued: “The quality of teaching and learning remains highly variable. Pupils are not catching up quickly from their very low starting points. Some teachers in key stage 1 and lower key stage 2 are not planning learning well enough.Exclusion rates and the number of serious incidents of poor behaviour, while reducing, remain high.”

The report acknowledged there had been some improvement to teaching, behaviour and attendance since the last inspection in 2017, but said newly appointed teachers ‘have not had a sustained impact on improving pupils’ outcomes since the previous inspection’.

It continued: “Governors’ oversight of the school has strengthened considerably and teaching is strengthening in Year 5 and Year 6 so that pupils in these year groups are making good or better progress now.”

North Yorkshire County Council said it hopes to achieve change in the school.

A spokesman said: “Governors and leaders of Skipton Parish Church of England primary school have made some notable improvements since the school was placed in special measures. The North county council has established an interim executive board for the school’s governance which is beginning to have a positive impact. Inspectors said though the school remained in serious weaknesses because there had not been sufficient improvement overall, governors and leaders understood what needed to be done. For example, recent training for middle leaders in the school had led to tangible positive developments in some teaching and learning.

The council is currently working with the diocese in finding a preferred academy sponsor to carry the work of the school forward.

“We hope very much that very soon we will be able to announce our preferred sponsor for the school,” said County Councillor Patrick Mulligan, North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Education and Skills.  “The children who attend Skipton parish school deserve the best and we have been frustrated by the slow progress that has been made in academisation.

“However, the school’s executive board has been working with the headteacher and other leaders to bring about improvement and we are confident that once an academy sponsor is in place, rapid progress can be made.”