A HIGH school in Highbridge has been placed in special measures after it was slammed in its latest Ofsted report.

King Alfred's School on Burnham Road, received an 'inadequate' rating from Ofsted inspectors after an inspection that took place on April 26/27.

The report highlighted how leaders have not tackled the issue of students poor GCSE results with 'sufficient urgency', how staff don't accurately monitor and evaluate the school's work and how pupil attendance is low.

The report said: "Leaders and governors have not taken the rapid action required to tackle the underperformance of pupils.

"As a result, academic outcomes have remained well below national averages, with little sign of improvement.

"Teachers do not use information about what pupils already know and can do to plan effectively for the next steps of pupils’ learning "The quality of teaching across different subjects and year groups is too variable.

"Teachers expectations of what pupils can achieve are too low.

"Provision for pupils’ personal development lacks attention to some aspects of risk that they may face in society.

"Behaviour is inadequate, as evidenced by too many instances of low-level disruption in classrooms and by the lack of pride manypupils show in their work.

"The attendance of pupils overall is too low, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those who have special educational needs.

"Leaders’ actions to resolve these issues have not resulted in sufficient improvement.

"The quality of careers guidance in Years 7 to 11 is poor. Many pupils do not have the knowledge or understanding to make informed choices about their futures.

"Pupils, including the most able and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, do not make the progress of which they are capable.

"Teachers do not use information about what pupils already know and can do to plan effectively for the next steps of pupils’ learning."

The report also pointed out some of the school's strengths including recent changes to the curriculum having a positive impact on progress made by KS3 pupils and the positive attitude of sixth form pupils towards their studies.

The local education authority has arranged for the Clevedon Learning Trust to support the King Alfred School in delivering the post Ofsted improvement work.

John Wells, executive headteacher of the Clevedon Learning Trust is now working alongside Mrs Hurr to help improve the school.

Denise Hurr, headteacher of King Alfred's School said: "I’m sure everyone involved with the school will be disappointed.

"But we are already moving forward and I am confident that the whole school community will continue to pull together to make the improvements that are needed.

"We very much welcome the assistance which I know will accelerate the rate of improvement.

"This is a school at the heart of its community with a strong ethos of care and respect, these are great foundations on which we will build.”

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said the council is 'committed' to working with the school to bring about the 'rapid improvement that everyone wants to see.'

"We have arranged for extra support and have every confidence that it will help take the school in the right direction" the spokesman said. 

The school's new special measures status means it will become part of a Multi-Academy Trust but details of the arrangements have yet to be finalised. 

The full Ofsted report can be found on the school's website.