A PRIMARY school that was rated 'inadequate' earlier this year is taking effective action to improve, Ofsted has said.

Botley School near Oxford has had its first monitoring visit since being given the regulator's worst rating in May.

A new report said leaders and managers 'are taking effective actions towards the removal of the serious weaknesses', and that the school's improvement plan is fit for purpose.

It revealed that the school's headteacher left the school this year after the inspection, and one of the assistant headteachers is now acting head.

The report added: "Leaders have acted urgently to address weaknesses in the school’s safeguarding procedures.

"With the support of the local authority, all safeguarding records have been reviewed and the record-keeping system overhauled.

"There is a much-improved culture of safeguarding across the whole school."

READ AGAIN: Botley School rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted

Ofsted also revealed that the school plans to become an academy 'within the next few months'.

The inspector said leaders are successfully improving pupils’ attendance, and are making changes to improve the curriculum.

When schools are rated 'inadequate' they are placed in one of two categories of concern - requiring special measures, or serious weaknesses.

Botley School, which teaches about 400 pupils, was placed in the latter, which is the less serious of the two.

It was rated 'good' for quality of teaching, learning and assessment, and for outcomes for pupils, but 'inadequate' in other areas and overall.

The new report said: "After the last inspection, leaders and governors recognised that urgent changes were necessary to the school, especially to safeguarding procedures.

"They have shown determination in tackling the areas of weakness found.

"The local authority has played a crucial role in supporting the school."

Monitoring inspections serve to check on progress, rather than award a rating.