A ONCE-WELL regarded school previously rated as “good” by Oftsed has declined so badly it has been placed on special measures.

Ian Ramsey CE School, in the leafy Fairfield area of Stockton, has been rated inadequate in the latest Ofsted report issued today (Thursday, May 1).

Alex Cunningham, Labour MP for Stockton North, said the report showed the school to be “not just inadequate but spectacularly so” and said “parents will rightly be demanding action from governors.”

The previous two Ofsted reports at the school rated the school, which is oversubscribed, as “good.”

However the latest report said leadership and quality of teaching were inadequate.

On teaching, the report said the quality of marking was not good enough, teachers have low expectations of pupils and homework wasn’t set often enough in a number of subjects.

Discussing leadership and management the school said leaders and governors have not ensured that teaching and achievement are improving and not all subject leaders check whether teachers are using information about students to plan effectively.

Both the Church of England and Stockton Borough Council are already working on an urgent action plan. It has already been announced that Venerable Bede Academy in Sunderland, which has been rated ‘outstanding,’ will give immediate additional support.

Headteacher, Janet Wilson, said: “Naturally, we are very disappointed with the outcome of the inspection and I realise that this judgement will come as a big shock to our parents.

“I want to reassure them that we are taking the issues raised in the report very seriously. Along with our governors, the local authority and Diocese, we are doing everything possible to address the issues raised by the inspection.

“We are getting ready to move into superb new facilities in September and are absolutely determined to provide educational standards to match.”

Mr Cunningham, MP, said: “I am quite shocked. This school has been consistently good in the past. This is not just inadequate but spectacularly so.”

Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Ann McCoy, said: “Though the performance of the school’s pupils at GCSE is better than the national average there are some issues with the progress pupils make during their time at the school and steps are being taken to resolve this as soon as possible.”

Last year, 61 per cent of pupils at the school achieved five A* to C grades including English and Maths, which is above the national average.