An Ofsted report has rated Thongsley Fields Primary and Nursery School in Huntingdon as 'requires improvement' despite the school and Cam Academy Trust challenging the decision.

Ofsted inspectors acknowledged the school had made "significant improvements" since joining the Cam Academy Trust in 2018, with four of the five key areas rated as 'good'.

However, the fifth category of 'quality of education' was rated as requiring improvement, leading to a subsequent low overall grading.

David Jones, headteacher of Thongsley Fields Primary and Nursery, said: "We are extremely disappointed by this overall outcome as we do not believe it accurately reflects the progress and transformation that has happened since we joined The Cam Academy Trust in 2018.

"It is deeply frustrating that the inspector did not take account of our children's progress in their learning, which is now in line with national averages.

"Nor was the enormous progress in phonics and reading, which is such an important part of our school of which we are rightly proud."

The Ofsted report

In the report published on May 4, inspectors said "pupils are happy and feel safe" and "value the warm and respectful relationships they have with other pupils and staff."

However, whilst pupils "enjoy their learning", it was noted that they have "gaps in their knowledge and understanding in reading and mathematics" and "do not yet learn and achieve as well as they should".

READ MORE: St Neots secondary school 'requires improvement' says Ofsted

The report said: "Some staff do not deliver the school's chosen phonics programme as well as they should.

"For some older pupils, there are gaps in their reading that are not being addressed quickly enough.

"Teachers are not always identifying and supporting effectively those pupils who do not have all the basic mathematical knowledge and understanding they need to be successful."

However, leaders at the school were recognised as raising the profile of reading across the school and having a "coherently planned personal, social, health and economic education curriculum."

Challenging the outcome

The School and Trust challenged the outcome and inspection process, and whilst elements of the complaint were acknowledged, the overall outcome was not changed.

Stephen Munday, CEO of The Cam Academy Trust, said: "A significant amount of work has gone into making wholescale improvement at Thongsley Fields Primary and Nursery School in recent years.

"Prior to joining the Trust, the school was in the bottom one per cent of attainment of progress nationally.

"We feel Thongsley Fields has developed into a good, strong school over the last five years, which is why we are disappointed by the overall judgement of the Ofsted report.

READ MORE: St Ives pre-school awarded fourth consecutive 'outstanding' Ofsted report

"Any identified area for improvement we will take very seriously, and we are confident we have a robust plan in place to ensure improvement continues to achieve excellence in all areas.

Mr Jones added: We remain adamant this is now a good school where our children make strong progress both academically and personally.

"We were pleased that the quality of our curriculum and teaching was recognised and praised, and we look forward to the opportunity to achieve the overall grading we feel we deserve in our next inspection."

The school says they look forward to the opportunity of achieving the overall grading they feel they deserve in the next inspection.