A PRIMARY school in Holcombe has been judged to ‘require improvement’ by inspectors, although behaviour and safety of pupils was given the top grade.

Emmanuel Holcombe Primary, in Helmshore Road, was previously rated as ‘good’ when Ofsted reported in 2008.

Following the latest visit on September 17 and 18, Ofsted described the achievement of pupils, quality of teaching, leadership and management as ‘requiring improvement’, but the behaviour and safety of pupils was deemed ‘outstanding’.

The report stated that achievement in writing and maths had not been as good as it should be, and that the quality of teaching had not ensured that pupils make better progress.

It read: “The level of challenge in questioning is inconsistent and pupils do not always have enough opportunities to work collaboratively. Similarly, there is sometimes too much teacher direction and pupils are not expected to find things out for themselves.”

The behaviour of the pupils was praised, saying that parents were delighted with the care their children received, and that senior leadership knows how to help move the school forward. It continued: “Pupils find it difficult to make any suggestions.“