PARENTS with children at St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Devizes, received a letter yesterday telling them the school has been put into special measures by Ofsted.

Inspectors who visited in March found that not enough had been done since their previous inspection, which said the school required improvement.

Teachers and governors were hoping the latest inspection would raise their rating to good but instead it was downgraded to inadequate and put into special measures.

Governors are now working with St Edmund's Roman Catholic Primary School, Calne, on a plan of action.

Headmistress Sheila Jones is off sick and parents have been told she will not return this term.

The letter from governors to parents said the report did not make comfortable reading but did highlight some strengths such as an improvement in English and maths, improved behaviour and a warm relationship with teachers.

The report criticises leadership, lack of communication, attainment of some pupils and said children in key stage one do not always show a positive attitude to their learning.