BOVINGTON Primary School has been placed in 'special measures' following a damning Ofsted report.

Government education inspectors, who visited the Holt Road school in October, concluded the primary was 'Inadequate' across four key areas, including effectiveness of leadership and management, and quality of teaching, learning and assessment.

They also ruled that improvement was required in early years provision and in personal development, behaviour and welfare.

These findings are in stark contrast to its last Ofsted inspection, carried out in 2012 when it was a first school, when it was deemed 'Outstanding'.

Under the Purbeck Review the district switched from a three to a two-tier school system in 2013.

Bovington Primary School headteacher Kris Winthorpe said: "We're disappointed that our school has been put into special measures.

"There have been significant changes and challenges since the school’s last inspection six years ago, including changing from a first school to a primary.

"We recognise that we have to rapidly improve outcomes for our pupils through stronger teaching and have already introduced new measures to address this."

Working alongside Dorset County Council, the school now says it is making improvements in areas including leadership and management, teaching and learning quality, and pupil behaviour.

Being put into 'special measures' also means that an 'academy order' will be issued for academy trusts to express interest in supporting the school's improvement.

While Ofsted's overall findings were that the school is 'Inadequate', inspectors did highlight a number of strengths they found at the primary.

These included pupils feeling happy and safe, which was reflected in a high attendance rate.

Positive findings outlined in the report also included: "Leaders have made the care, guidance and support of pupils a priority.

"Leaders and teaching staff have an in-depth understanding of pupil's pastoral needs.

"They work proactively with a range of external agencies to remove any barriers that pupils may face."

Ofsted also said the school's curriculum provided a range of subjects and experiences.

Mr Winthorpe said: "I’d like to reassure parents that myself, staff and governors are all deeply committed to making the necessary changes.

"We have a robust action plan and are confident that we can rapidly improve our standards."