A SCHOOL has gone from good to failing.

Lord Street Primary in Horwich has been placed in special measures after Ofsted found it was inadequate and had high levels of underachievement.

Bolton Council raised concerns about the school as early as the autumn of 2016 and say they have been working with senior staff to raise standards.

The school was in the bottom ten per cent nationally for the proportion of pupils making the progress expected of them in reading and writing at the end of Year Six last year.

Inspectors reported: “Over time, the school’s performance has declined significantly in all areas.

“Leaders have not done enough to tackle poor teaching, learning and assessment.

“Consequently, pupils have suffered weak teaching, resulting in high levels of underachievement.”

The headteacher resigned at the end of the summer term in 2017 following a lengthy period of absence.

Now the school is being led by interim headteachers — Kevan Naughton and Charlotte Bryant — who were brought in last May.

The Ofsted report added: “The interim senior leaders know exactly what needs to be done. They have a successful track record in supporting other schools and are determined to improve this school quickly.”Although overall teaching is weak, with pupils sometimes showing ‘little pride’ in their work, inspectors found that there were pockets of ‘stronger’ teaching, particularly in Year Six .

Pupils are said to enjoy their new way of learning after the introduction of a new curriculum.

Mr Naughton, interim executive headteacher who leads the outstanding The Valley School and is a national leader of education, said the report did not reflect the school’s current position.

He said: “We join the school community in being disappointed with the inspection findings.

“However, it is clear from the report that this is an over-time judgement and not based on the school’s position now.

“The vast majority of issues mentioned in this report were based on results and factors beyond our control, and reflected many of the school’s results before our arrival at the school, over the past two years.

“When the report is read in full, it is clear the inspector was very impressed with the work the school leadership team have begun and the inspector’s comments demonstrate faith in our ‘proven track record’ in leading schools in difficulty and providing ‘strong steer for improvement’.

“We do indeed know ‘exactly’ what needs to be done to improve this school.

“The children in the school are safe and happy, well cared for and respectful and they do deserve the best education we can possibly provide.

“Clearly, parents, staff and governors will be disappointed with the findings, but the governors, local authority and the leadership team have moved the school forward considerably since support began in late May 2017.

“Every area identified was already part of a detailed and comprehensive action plan.

“Unfortunately, moving a school forward does take time and this was acknowledged by the inspector. Our changes will need time to embed.

“We feel the improvements from May to now, are rapid and built on solid foundations and that the school is quickly improving.”

A Bolton Council spokesman said progress was being made to improve the school.

“We were aware of and have responded to the issues at the school and we have already put measures in place to help it to improve including setting up a collaborative group to support the process.

“We assisted the school in commissioning the interim leadership who have been praised in the report.

“Progress is being made and we will continue to monitor the school.”