A previously good school has been placed into the requires improvement category following an Ofsted inspection which found that 'too many' pupils miss class.

Gaskell Primary School was said to require improvement in the quality of education delivered, leadership and management as well as in its early years provision.

But the behaviour and attitudes of pupils along with their personal development at the school was described as good.

The Ofsted report stated: "Curriculum subjects, other than English and mathematics, are at different stages of development. Some curriculum leaders are new to their roles. These leaders have not had the training and support that they need to lead their subjects effectively.

"While leaders have a broad overview of the key themes that will be taught throughout the year, they have not identified what pupils should learn.

"This is also true in the early years. This makes it difficult for teachers to design learning that builds on what pupils already know. As a result, they do not achieve as well as they should."

The governing body was described by Ofsted as "relatively new and inexperienced" and do not hold leaders sufficiently to account for the quality of education that pupils receive.

The inspection team reported: "Persistent absence and overall absence rates are high. "Too many pupils, including some with SEND, do not attend school often enough. This limits how well these pupils learn. Leaders should take action to reduce levels of absence for all pupils, including those with SEND."

The report did highlight that 'everyone is made to feel welcome at Gaskell Community Primary School'

And pupils, including children in the early years, enjoy coming to school.

The report stated: "Pupils told inspectors that the staff in the school are caring and always willing to help. Pupils feel safe in school.

"Leaders have high expectations for pupils’ behaviour. Pupils across the school, including children in the early years, behave well. This means that pupils can get on with their learning without disruption."

The inspection team found that children make a positive contribution to their local community.

The report added: "Leaders expect pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to achieve well. That said, pupils, including children in the early years, do not achieve as well as they should in some subjects other than English and mathematics. This is because leaders and teachers are not sufficiently clear about what pupils should learn and when this content should be taught in these subjects."

Headteacher at the school, Sarah Barlow, said: “I fully acknowledge the issues highlighted in the Ofsted report, which we had already identified on our School Improvement Plan for this academic year, and we are already working to make the recommended improvements.  “However, many positives are highlighted in the report, including our strong emphasis on reading as well as our behaviour and attitudes which have been graded as ‘good’.

“Ofsted commented that the staff are caring, and the pupils feel safe. 

“There are other indications that the school is on the right track. Last year, our KS2 SATS results were in the top 20 per cent of all schools in England for English and maths.  “I would like to thank my staff for their hard work and dedication, and we will continue to do our very best for all our pupils.”