Easthampstead Park Community School, in Great Hollands, was graded ‘requires improvement’ by the schools watchdog following an inspection last month.

All four categories of the report – achievement of pupils, quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils, and leadership and management – were classed as ‘requires improvement’.

The grading remains the same as from the previous inspection in 2012, which was an improvement after it had been judged as ‘inadequate’ – the lowest possible rating – the previous year.

Inspectors ruled that the teaching within the specialist sports school is not consistent, with some teachers not planning activities at the right level of difficulty for their pupils. The quality of marking was also labelled as inconsistent, with pupils not being given enough guidance on how to improve their work.

Inspectors also felt that the potential of pupils was not met by the time they reached Year 11, and deemed progress in the school’s Sixth Form to be slow as well.

Other inconsistencies within the school included proper management of the poor behaviour of pupils, with disruptive behaviour within classes not being properly dealt with.

Despite the school failing to move to the next grading of ‘good’, inspectors recognised that the proportion of pupils achieving five or more A*-C grades at GCSE level had improved since its last inspection two years ago.

Headteacher Liz Cook was praised for introducing new initiatives that led to better teaching since the last report, while it was also noted that children felt safe at the school and they socialised well together.

Governors were commended for their knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the school and for playing an active part in making improvements.

There are four possible Ofsted ratings: ‘outstanding’, (the top grade), followed by ‘good’, ‘requires improvement’, and ‘inadequate’.