A SCHOOL has been told it is not "taking effective action" to make improvements.

Hindley High School was given a rating of "requires improvement" in a full inspection by education watchdog Ofsted, which was published in October 2017.

Ofsted returned to the Mornington Road school on March 26 to carry out a monitoring visit due to it having two "requires improvement" inspections in a row.

A report of the visit published this month states enough is not being done to make the improvements Ofsted called for after the full inspection.

The report said: "Senior leaders and governors are not taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the last section 5 inspection (monitoring review) in order for the school to become good."

In a letter addressed to head teacher Dr Ian Butterfield, inspector Emma Gregory said: "You recognise that there is more work to do to ensure that the school provides a good standard of education.

"However, the actions that leaders have taken since the previous inspection have not secured improvements quickly enough.

"Outcomes for those pupils who left the school in 2018 were particularly weak.

"Pupils made poor progress from their starting points in many subjects, including English and mathematics.

"Examination results for key stage 4 show that pupils’ rates of progress in 2018 were in the bottom 20 per cent nationally. This was the case in English, mathematics, science and humanities.

"In more recent months, following the appointment of four lead practitioners, and changes to senior leadership roles, the pace of improvement has quickened.

"However, some of the key issues identified at the previous inspection have not been addressed with sufficient urgency.

"Disadvantaged pupils who left the school in 2018 made especially poor progress.

"The progress made by disadvantaged pupils in English and mathematics has remained in the bottom 20 per cent nationally for the past two years."

There were some positives that were outlined in the letter though.

Ms Gregory added: "There have been some improvements in the quality of teaching.

"Staff and governors are determined to make Hindley High School a good school.

"In more recent months, following the appointment of four lead practitioners, and changes to senior leadership roles, the pace of improvement has quickened.

"Following the previous inspection, some middle leaders have been able to secure improvements in outcomes for pupils in some subjects. For instance, those pupils who left the school in 2018 made better progress in modern foreign languages than pupils who left the school the year before.

"Leaders’ assessment information shows that the proportion of pupils achieving a standard pass in English and mathematics also increased.

"Pupils and staff explained to me how systems to check on and reduce pupils’ rates of absence are more effective. As a result, rates of attendance for all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those pupils with SEND (Special educational needs and disability), have improved.

"The school is receiving a range of support from other local schools and external experts."

Dr Butterfield has been told to take action to "eradicate further the inconsistencies in the quality of teaching and ensure that teachers expect the best of pupils, especially in mathematics".

It has also been ordered to "ensure that leaders and teachers identify the gaps in pupils’ learning, but particularly for those pupils who are disadvantaged, to better use additional funding to improve outcomes for pupils."

Hindley High School was approached for a comment about the visit.