Beckwithshaw Community Primary School has been rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted.

The 75-pupil village school on Church Row had been consistently rated 'good' by inspectors since 2002 but its latest Ofsted report means the school has now been placed in special measures.

Inspectors found pupils enjoy coming to school, show good levels of concentration and listen to instructions.

They praised the school for its phonics programme and said pupils read with confidence and understanding.

But the report, which was published on Friday, criticised the learning curriculum at the school as "not fit for purpose" and "poorly planned".

It said this has led to pupils not doing well in a range of subjects.

'Leadership vacuum'

An interim executive headteacher and interim head of school took up their posts at Beckwithshaw in October 2021.

But the report said a "leadership vacuum" over a period of time has had a negative impact on the quality of teaching at the school. It said staff have suffered from excessive workloads and low morale.

It said that new subject leaders are aware of the "deep-rooted problems" with the school’s curriculum.

However, they "lack the training they need" to make the required changes to raise standards.

Here is how the inspectors came to the overall ‘inadequate’ rating:

• The quality of education: Inadequate


• Behaviour and attitudes: Good


• Personal development: Requires improvement


• Leadership and management: Inadequate


• Early years provision: Requires improvement

Read more:

• Ofsted rates Ripley primary school as ‘inadequate’


• Ofsted indicates Boroughbridge High School’s ‘good’ grade under threat

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Special measures

The inspection took place over two days in December last year when inspectors observed lessons, spoke to pupils informally and had meetings with school leaders.

The report said the inspection took into account the covid pandemic and how it impacted the school.

Beckwithshaw has now been placed into special measures to drive up standards.

Special measures schools are given details on how they must improve and are regularly monitored to check that they are on track. Another inspection will take place within 12 months.

The report says:

The school was rated 'good' at its last full inspection in 2012. A short inspection took place in 2016 that said the school "continues to be good".

Beckwithshaw is currently part of a federation of three schools, along with Kettlesing Felliscliffe Community Primary School and Ripley Endowed C of E Primary School.

The school's response

Robert Ling, chair of the interim executive board at Beckwithshaw Community Primary School, said: