'INADEQUATE' safeguarding and a need to improve pupil behaviour has led to Wheatley CE Primary School being placed in special measures.

The 348-pupil school was given an 'inadequate' rating – Ofsted's lowest – in an inspection report released this month.

But headteacher Karen MacKenzie said she was 'deeply disappointed' with Ofsted's judgement and pledged to pull out all the stops to get the school out of special measures as soon as possible.

The inspection team said safeguarding was inadequate and that school leaders had not taken effective action to ensure pupils' safety.

In their report inspectors Ann Henderson, Sue Cox and Nigel Cook said: "School leaders and governors have not established an effective culture for keeping pupils safe.

"The quality of teaching and learning varies across classes and year groups.

"Some teachers do not expect high enough standards.

"The school's work to promote pupils' personal development and welfare is inadequate."

They said the quality of teaching, learning and assessment at the school in Littleworth Road must be improved to ensure all groups of pupils make good progress

The inspectors added that pupil behaviour required improvement, but praised Miss MacKenzie for 'working effectively to build positive relationships within the school and the wider community'.

They also noted that parents were positive about the school, with most who completed an online questionnaire saying they would recommend the school to other parents.

Miss MacKenzie said: "We are all deeply disappointed at the outcome to the inspection which has judged the school as in need of special measures.

"Ofsted focused on paper processes in the school and some systems did not show they were totally up to date.

"We have already taken immediate steps in prioritising improvements to these systems.

"However we are clear, as is Ofsted, that this does not mean pupils are unsafe or at risk in the school."

On April 6 the school held a meeting attended by more than 90 parents and other people from the community to outline plans for rapid improvement.

Miss MacKenzie said that many parents disagreed with the findings of the inspection team.

Other positives picked out by Ofsted included improving attendance and effective teaching of phonics and reading.

She said: "We are all determined to improve the school in as short a space of time as possible to ensure that Wheatley CE Primary School becomes the good school that our children deserve."