AN award-winning Redditch school has been put into special measures after being rated as inadequate in a recent Ofsted inspection.

St George’s CE First School, which was previous judged as 'good', was slammed by inspectors for its "weak" teaching and pupils’ "inadequate" progress in reading, writing and mathematics.

Inspectors who visited the Stevenson Avenue school on November 8 and 9 also criticised governors for not holding leaders to account for pupils "slow progress and ongoing low attainment".

The damning rating comes just weeks after the school was awarded the Nurture Group Quality Mark and months after achieving the Leading Parent Partnership Award and the Achievement for All Quality Mark.

The report noted that a proportion of pupils with special needs do not make enough progress and support for them in class is inadequate as planning activities do not take enough account of their difficulties.

It also said leaders "lack a of sense of urgency" and that they did not have high enough expectations of pupils’ achievement.

The school which has 222 children on its roll, was found inadequate in three areas: effectiveness of leadership, quality of learning and outcomes for children while the personal development, behaviour and welfare of pupils was found to be requiring improvement.

A large majority of pupils are from minor ethic groups and most of these speak English as an additional language and inspectors required the school to "immerse" pupils in language so they acquire and apply spoken and written vocabulary.

Inspectors said the school needed to improve quality of teaching across the school, improve leadership at all levels and ensure pupils are supervised during lunchtimes so that quarrels are quickly averted and do not escalate.

The report said attendance remains below the national average but is rigorously checked and is improving.

Inspectors stated newly qualified teachers should not be appointed at the school and an external review of governance should be undertaken to access where leadership may be improved.

However, inspectors did note that pupils felt safe, teaching assistants were "deployed effectively" and that phonics is taught well in Year 1.

Headteacher Caroline Redfern, who was absent at the time of inspection, said: "Whilst we are very disappointed with the outcome of the Ofsted inspection, we acknowledge the findings and have already started to address those areas highlighted as in need of improvement.

"We are working closely with the local authority and have a clear understanding of what needs to be done to improve outcomes for pupils.

"We are confident that planned improvements for the future and the changes that already have taken place will ensure all children at St George’s School will flourish and achieve every educational success."