INSPECTORS have placed a Worcester school in special measures, after grading it “inadequate” across five key criteria in a damning report.

The Fairfield Community Primary School, in Brickfields, received the worst possible rating from Ofsted due to poor pupil attendance and behaviour, low attainment in core subjects and ineffective teaching.

It is failing to give children an acceptable standard of education and the school’s leaders do not have the capacity to turn things around, according to the report.

But the school's governors have insisted action is being taken and that they have “a clear understanding of what needs to be done to improve”.

Ofsted will now regularly monitor the failing school, which was judged “good” during its last visit by the regulator in October 2012.

Inspectors wrote in the latest report: “Leaders have not been successful in creating a culture where pupils behave and achieve well.

“The curriculum is not well planned to help pupils make progress from one year to the next and does not prepare pupils well for life in modern Britain.

“Attendance is consistently well below the average nationally and part-time attendance is used inappropriately. Pupils are away from school too often and for too long while exclusions are used too frequently.

“Poor behaviour from a minority of pupils disrupts learning and makes pupils feel unsafe. Some pupils ignore instructions from adults and speak and behave aggressively towards them. Some teachers are not effective in teaching basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics and attainment is below average.

“Not enough pupils, including some with special educational needs, make the progress they should and in some classes, the attainment of disadvantaged pupils is well below that of their classmates.”

The report was similarly critical of pupil care, stating records of concerns about children’s well-being “lack detail” and have on occasion “not been acted upon with sufficient urgency”.

Governors were singled out for blame too, with inspectors claiming they had “not ensured that teaching is effective” and “do not provide appropriate challenge and support to school leaders”.

Inspectors, however, did recognise the efforts of the acting headteacher’s “recent improvements to school policies and systems” and clarified that “the majority of pupils behave well and are keen to learn”.

Sue Girling, chairman of governors at The Fairfield Community Primary School, said: “Whilst we are very disappointed with the outcome of the Ofsted inspection, we acknowledge the findings and have already started to address those areas highlighted as in need of improvement, including improving the quality of teaching and attendance.

“We are working closely with the local authority and have a clear understanding of what needs to be done to improve outcomes for pupils.

“It is important to note there are a number of positive statements in the report, such as ‘improvements to school policies and systems’, ‘leaders’ roles and responsibilities have been clarified’, ‘leaders have an accurate understanding of strengths and weaknesses’ and ‘the majority of pupils behave well and are keen to learn’.

“We are confident that planned improvements for the future and the changes that already have taken place will ensure all children will flourish and achieve every educational success.”

A spokesman for Worcestershire County Council said: “The Ofsted report confirms issues that had already been identified and are in the process of being addressed by The Fairfield Community Primary School.

The Ofsted report adds that the school has had a “significant turnover of staff since the last inspection” while the headteacher, Justin Schiffmann, has been “absent due to ill health since summer 2014 and was not present during the inspection”.