Pupils at St Peter’s School in Marlborough are not reaching their potential, according to an Ofsted report published today that said the school ‘requires improvement’.

This is the same judgement as its previous inspection in 2013, although leadership and management have improved according to the report.

The report reads: “Staff fully support the school’s leaders in the strategies for improving teaching and pupils’ progress, which have raised achievement since the previous inspection."

Although the school was rated ‘good’ for leadership and management and behaviour and safety of pupils, the quality of teaching and achievement of pupils was judged as ‘requires improvement’.

The report reads: “Although pupils attain broadly average standard by the time they leave Year 6, they do not achieve as well as they should during their time in school.

“The most able pupils do not make as much progress as they should as they move up through the school. The work is not always sufficiently challenging.

“Some disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs do not make good progress.

“Many pupils of all abilities do not make sufficient progress in writing. Pupils lack opportunities to write outside of English lessons.

“Over time, teaching has not been effective enough to ensure that pupils make good progress.

“Teachers do not consistently challenge pupils to use their literacy skills at the right level in lessons, other than in English.

“Although marking has improved, it is not focused enough on what pupils do well and how they can improve their work. Not all teachers give pupils time and opportunity to respond to advice from marking to improve their understanding and speed up progress.”

During the a two day visit to the school on January 21 and 22, two inspectors observed 11 lessons taught by 11 teachers, held meetings with pupils, staff and members of the governing body.

One of the inspectors met with a representative from the local authority and an inspector had a telephone conversation with the headteacher of another local school and both spoke to parents.

Inspectors took account of 84 responses to the Ofsted online questionnaire Parent View and 28 staff questionnaires.

The school will receive a full inspection within 24 months from the date of this inspection.