OFSTED has blamed a headteacher and Kirklees Council for continued failings at a Colne Valley primary school.

In a damning report, inspectors condemned Colin Bird and the council for not acting quickly enough to turn around Marsden Junior School after it was placed in Special Measures a year ago - despite the best efforts of “a hardworking leadership team.”

In a report which pulled no punches, Ofsted heavily criticised Mr Bird, who has been absent from the school for the last two weeks -and Kirklees Council for not taking decisive action.

In a letter to parents, chair of governors Tracy Greaves outlined the radical proposals which are due to bring about rapid changes at the 158-pupil school, which was rated as Good three years ago.

Marsden is due to convert to academy next Wednesday to become part of The Mirfield Free Grammar and Sixth Form Multi-Academy Trust (MAT), which also governs Colne Valley High School.

On March 5, Lorraine Barker was made Executive Principal of the school - a position she already holds at the other two MAT schools. And Catherine Jubbs, headteacher of the outstanding Netherthong Primary, is also working with Marsden Juniors.

Regarding the latest Ofsted, Mrs Greaves said: “I am disappointed, but reassure you that the governors were rigorously addressing these issues prior to the visit.

“The staff are optimistic and determined to effect positive and sustained change; they are committed, hardworking and prioritise the children’s learning and wellbeing. Next week we convert to academy status and are therefore guaranteed that this support and challenge will not disappear.”

Marsden Junior School
Marsden Junior School

The Ofsted report said: “The headteacher lacks a sense of urgency in addressing and following through the areas for improvement. Those areas that the headteacher has sole responsibility for, such as eradicating inadequate teaching, have not been acted upon promptly or effectively enough.

“This means that some pupils are still not receiving a sufficient standard of education and are not making expected progress.

“Over time, leaders have provided the headteacher with information about the checks they have made, but the headteacher’s own observations of teaching and other monitoring records have been few and far between, and have not provided an effective role model for other leaders.

“Support for the headteacher has been less effective, and weaknesses in this aspect of management and leadership remain. The local authority has not challenged this robustly enough to ensure that the gains seen at the last monitoring visit have been built upon and the pace of improvement maintained.

“Neither has it acted quickly enough to help leaders address the inadequate teaching in the school to ensure all teaching was good by the deadline in the local authority action plan.”