Essa Primary School, an academy, has been found to require improvement by Ofsted inspectors

Essa Primary School, which opened three years ago, has been placed into the 'requires improvement' bracket by Ofsted.

The only area of the school found to be good was its early years provision.

Ofsted found that teachers' and teaching assistants' subject knowledge is 'not good' — they made errors in spoken English and some teachers made errors when teaching mathematics, history and science.

Inspectors stated: "A few adults also made errors in standard spoken English and did not correct pupils' errors."

They found that the brightest pupils were not challenged in class, attendance was below average and 'most groups of pupils' had a higher-than-average rate of persistent absence.

Inspectors stated: "Most-able pupils do not make good progress and do not attain the standards of which they should be capable, particularly in subjects such as science, history, geography and writing."

Pupils were "not well prepared to cope with the science curriculum taught in secondary school".

But inspectors found that that the school was improving, singling out headteacher Jo Atherton for praise.

They stated: "The principal provides good leadership and has been successful in stabilising and improving the quality of teaching. She has high expectations and is beginning to establish a positive working ethos. The staff survey indicates that morale is high. She has a highly accurate judgement about how well pupils are doing and the quality and effectiveness of teaching.

"There is good intention behind the curriculum, which is to provide a wide range of experiences to which pupils would not usually have access."

Children were described as getting off to a good start in reception where all groups make good progress.

Pupils throughout the school were described as "considerate of other pupils, respectful and tolerant".

Essa Primary was opened on the campus on Bolton's first academy school Essa Academy in 2014 by the Essa Foundation Academies Trust.

Academy schools are state-funded independent schools and not controlled by the local authority.

Mrs Atherton said: "We are pleased the inspectors felt that Essa Primary is an improving school and that they recognised that the personal development of welfare of our children is good. As a new school we are on a journey of improvement and we are determined that all will succeed."

She added: "We are in agreement with inspectors.

"We want to build on the good work in Reception by improving the performance of our boys — so that they catch up with the girls — and as well as literacy and numeracy, we want to give some attention to other subjects in the curriculum such as history, geography and science. And with the support of parents, we are determined to reduce children’s absence."