TEACHERS at a Bury primary school say they are "shocked and saddened" after being rated as inadequate in an inspection report.

A recently-published Ofsted report says pupils at Summerseat Methodist Primary School did "not thrive academically" and that the best wasn't expected from them.

Inspectors stated that was particularly true for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), with leaders and governors not having done enough "to address the considerable weaknesses in the curriculum."

It also said: "They want to learn. However, the quality of education across the school in most subjects is poorly organised and often not well thought out.

"Pupils try their best, but they do not achieve well."

Other factors for the rating including children not learning to read well enough and teachers not having the subject knowledge to teach many areas of the curriculum.

The school, which underwent the inspection in March, said in a statement that "the staff and governing body were saddened and shocked by the overall outcome" as they feel it does not accurately reflect the experience that the children have in the school.

The statement added: "The school was inspected under a new framework, introduced in September 2019, which places greater emphasis on the quality of education through the curriculum offered to pupils.

"The report recognises our strengths in the behaviour, attitudes and personal development of our pupils; these areas were judged good."

The personal development, behaviour and attitudes of pupils was rated as good, while the quality of education and leadership and management were rated as inadequate. Early years provision was rated as requiring improvement.

The last inspection, in January 2019, rated the school as good.

Current Headteacher Julie Whittaker, who only joined the school in September, said that around half of the staff had changed in that period.

She said: “We are proud of our children. The inspection report highlights that children are safe and enjoy coming to our small friendly school.

"Whilst we have challenged the report with Ofsted we do recognise that there is further work to do in developing the deep and rich curriculum across all subjects.

"This has been the main focus since my arrival in September and we are determined to continue to drive the journey of improvement for the children of this wonderful community school.”

The school recently conducted an online Zoom meeting with parents, who were able to express their thoughts, concerns and feelings.

Mrs Whittaker said that many parents were understanding and supportive of the school's efforts and position.

The school has now been told that among other things, teachers’ subject expertise must be improved, along with the organisation of learning in most subjects- which was called "disjointed and muddled."

As a consequence of the overall inspection judgement Summerseat Methodist is required to become an academy through joining a Multi Academy Trust.