A SOUTHAMPTON school where “quality of education, leadership and management have not improved” has been slammed in an inspection report.

Charlton House Independent School - where fees top £8,000 per academic year - has been rated as “inadequate” by Ofsted.

Inspectors found that children at the Bitterne school “do not learn or remember subject knowledge as well as they should, including when learning to read.”

They also found issues surrounding safeguarding. The school did not meet the independent school standards.

Inspectors found that “records of concerns are kept in several different places, and are not well coordinated”.

“There is no systematic review of previous concerns,” it added. “This limits the school’s ability to recognise when pupils are at risk of harm.”

Inspectors added: “Risk assessments do not consider all the relevant information they should to reduce risk. Health and safety reports on the site have been too slow to be fully actioned.

“Recruitment checks are not as thorough as they should be.”

The report said subject leaders have not received training to help them to plan clear and logical sequences of learning in all subjects, including in the early years.

“This means that pupils do not learn or remember subject knowledge as well as they should, including when learning to read,” it added.

The report did find that pupils are “proud” to follow the school’s mission statement to “love one another”.

Pupils said the small size of the school allows them to be friends with everyone.

Pupils seldom fall out and say bullying does not happen.

In response, headteacher Matthew Robinson told the Echo: “While we are disappointed with the overall effectiveness judgement that we remain ‘inadequate’, we feel the report does identify some strong progress in many areas of the school.

“We are particularly delighted to read that the inspection team judged both the children’s behaviour and attitudes and their personal development as Good.

“This shows considerable progress from the previous inspection.

“Staff have already undertaken comprehensive training in the newly acquired phonics scheme and resources so that all members of the teaching staff have a detailed understanding of the schools chosen systematic approach to the teaching of reading.

“We are confident that all aspects in relation to safeguarding noted in the report have already been actioned and addressed promptly by the new leadership team and governing board.

“Following a stringent and pro-active scheme of works to ensure all reports have been addressed and works rectified. The Board can report that all elements of health and safety indicated in the report have been addressed and completed.

“Parents at the gate were all very positive about the school; they like that their children are developing in confidence. Parents also spoke about this school having no bullying and that children who were unhappy in previous schools were happy here.

“They literally can’t wait to get to school.”

There are just 29 pupils at the school with capacity for 312 youngsters, the report said.