A primary school still “requires improvement” according to its most recent Ofsted report.

In 2019, Eastchurch Church of England Primary School on the Isle of Sheppey dropped from “good” to its current rating, with issues across the board being highlighted.

Since then the school hasn’t managed to make enough progress, with the most recent report highlighting concerns over the early stage curriculum and that some pupils could not read quickly enough.

However, the school has been acknowledged for its improvements in attendance saying it has made “rapid improvements to ensure more pupils attend school regularly” – an issue that was a concern in the previous report.

Since the pandemic, the increased number of “ghost children” – defined as persistent truants – has risen in Kent and has become a growing concern amongst many education commentators.

Earlier this year, school absence levels reached their highest levels at 8.4%, a figure concerning to chief Ofsted inspector Amanda Spielman who believes families have “lost sight” of the need for children to attend school in person.

Naomi Ivory, Eastchurch’s head teacher, said: “The school works very closely with families on the importance of attendance.

“Also, in the last half of the summer term, there is a forest school session for all pupils, which has helped with attendance.”

Eastchurch was also acknowledged by inspectors for making “significant changes to the curriculum” and was “determined to make further improvements”.

Naomi continued: “As the inspectors have said, we have made significant improvements and are continuing to do so.

“We have ambitious plans for reading and our early years and will be putting these in place as soon as we possibly can. We want to provide the highest standards in everything we do and feel confident that we are working towards this.”

Ofsted has also said that Aquila, Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust, which the school joined in 2020, was providing support for the school and that staff and parents had noticed “significant improvements in recent months”.

Eastchurch School was rated “good” earlier this year by inspectors from the Church of England.

Ofsted visited in July and published the report today (September 29).