Work has started to tackle weaknesses at a Chatteris primary school after a Government inspection said the teaching and pupil achievement was inadequate.

Kingsfield Primary has been put into special measures following a recent Ofsted report that said pupils lost interest when work was too easy for them and leaders did not check for pupils who were falling behind.

The report said that teaching was inadequate in some classes because pupils were not given work to match their abilities and added that most children in the school did not make sufficient progress in English and maths.

Chair of Governors Steve Foy said: “Whilst we are naturally disappointed with the Inspectors’ conclusions, we are pleased that recent changes implemented by the school’s leadership team and governors were recognised during the inspection.

“The governing body is determined to work to provide stronger professional support and challenge for the head and leadership team and we will work with the local authority and HMI in order to improve outcomes for the children of Kingsfield. They have been and will continue to be, at the centre of all we try to achieve.”

Inspectors from OfSTED – the Office for Standards in Education – praised several areas of the school in Chatteris, but concluded it required special measures because it was failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education.

In some classes, they found good teaching which enabled pupils to make good progress. Inspectors said in the best lessons, teachers asked questions that made pupils think hard about their learning.

But they also said that the pace of lessons was too slow, and that in too many lessons work was not well matched to pupils’ abilities.

Inspectors said pupils were polite and courteous to adults and they also found pupils had a very good understanding of what bullying was, and felt safe and happy at school. However, they added that behaviour in lessons was not always good.

The team noted that there had been ‘numerous’ changes in leadership at the school since its last inspection, with the previous headteacher leaving in July 2012 and interim headteacher Jan Cobley starting in September 2013.

“The interim headteacher and deputy headteacher have introduced improvements. Leaders now check pupils’ progress more frequently. Teachers now receive clear judgements on how well they are doing,” said the inspectors’ report.

Several members of the governing body are new, and while inspectors said they were inexperienced, they brought a good range of skills and expertise and had completed training and successfully appointed a new headteacher who is due to start in January 2014.

They also praised the good range of before and after-school clubs.

The school was required to improve teaching, and strengthen leadership and management.