A HAMPSHIRE primary school has seen its grade from Ofsted inspectors worsen following its latest inspection.

Wellow Primary School in West Wellow, near Romsey, has been described as “satisfactory” – the third lowest out of four possible marks.

It comes after the 204-pupil school was previously graded “good” during its last Ofsted inspection in 2005.

Click to read the Wellow Primary School Ofsted Report

Head teacher Tina Daniel, who has been at the helm for the last two years, said a school improvement plan had been drawn up and the school was now firmly on track to make big improvements.

She said: “Children at Wellow School continue to achieve above national and county average standards at the end of their time in primary school and progress rates are improving. “This school is on a journey and all staff and governors are committed to moving the school to ‘outstanding’. “The high level of commitment of all staff, the enthusiasm and motivation of our pupils, and the support and involvement of our parents in their children’s education will help us achieve this aim. “All the areas for improvement had already been recognised by the school and there are robust and rigorous plans in place detailed in the School Improvement Plan.”

Although pupils were found to reach above average standards in their Year six exams, inspectors were concerned that more able students were not making better progress. While pupils were found to make good progress in reading and maths, not enough pupils reached the higher levels in writing and science last year.

Inspectors said that teaching was “satisfactory” overall and that there were some examples of good and even outstanding teaching. They also praised the school for its “good systems” that have been introduced to monitor and track each pupil’s progress.