Council vows to turn around failing Leeds primary

Holy Name Catholic Primary in Otley Old Road, Leeds, was found to be inadequate by the education watchdog following a visit last month.

Now Leeds City Council has said it is confident of getting the school “rapidly back on track” by getting other good and outstanding primaries in the city to support it.

Ofsted’s report warned that pupil progress at Holy Name varied between different classes and in different subjects.

Inspectors said the attainment of pupils, particularly those from deprived backgrounds and those with special educational needs, was well below average.

The report also warned that the school’s most able pupils make too little progress in reading and writing and do not reach the standard they are capable of.

However Ofsted does praise the school’s early years provision which it rates as being good.

The report says: “Children get off to a good start in the early years. As a result of good teaching and well-managed provision, they make good progress and achieve well.

Pupils’ attendance and behaviour in the main school is also praised in the new report.

Paul Brennan, Leeds City Council’s deputy director of children’s services, said: “We have put a comprehensive package of support in place for Holy Name Catholic Primary, which includes them working closely with the Teaching Schools Alliance and other good and outstanding primary schools in the city.

“We are working closely with the Diocese and are confident that the measures that we have put in place will result in getting the school rapidly back on track, and will continue to work with governors and HMI to monitor how the school improves.”