PUPILS at a Banbury primary school may not have noticed anything different arriving for lessons on Monday, but it has now become the county’s newest academy.

The change follows a damning Ofsted report last May that found major problems at William Morris County Primary in Bretch Hill school, including bullying and poor quality teaching.

It was told by the education watchdog in 2013 it required improvement, but two years on an inspection revealed the problems had become much worse.

It has now been taken over by the GLF Academy Trust, which controls 15 other schools including ones in Surrey and Berkshire.

GLF chief executive Jon Chaloner said the trust would now be looking to set up more links with schools in Oxfordshire.

He added: “We recognise that every school is different, as is every child.

“We looking forward to collaborating with the William Morris community to share best practice and explore learning ideas.”

Mr Chaloner, who has more than 20 years’ experience as a teacher and headteacher, stressed the move to an academy would not have a large impact on pupils.

But he said the trust would be working with the school to make any changes necessary after consultation with teachers and other staff.

The Ofsted report, released last year, said: “Pupils have a poor understanding of what constitutes bullying and are unclear about risk, thus compromising their ability to keep themselves safe.

“Leaders and managers have failed to arrest a decline in the quality of teaching so that pupils’ achievement by the end of Key Stage 2 has fallen and is now inadequate.

“Pupils’ behaviour requires improvement.

“Pupils do not always listen to instructions and quickly settle to work. This low level disruption slows learning.”

A new head teacher, Julie Hiddleston – currently deputy head teacher at Ladygrove Park Primary School in Didcot – has been appointed to take over in April.

But until then the school, which has about 175 pupils, will be run by Julie Hawkins, of Hardwick School, and Dawn Shilston from Orchard Fields Primary School.

The school’s chairwoman of governors Charlotte Christie has assured parents there will be no change to the current staff, uniform or the school’s name.

Educational academies are funded by the government rather than local authorities, and are run by an academy trust which employs the staff.

But they still have to follow the same rules on admissions, special educational needs and exclusions.