A school has seen its outstanding Ofsted rating removed following an inspection by the education watchdog.

Westlands School in Westlands Avenue, which is one of Sittingbourne's biggest secondary schools, was told its rating had been reassessed to good after a team of five inspectors made a two-day unannounced visit last month.

It had been rated outstanding at its previous inspection in October 2012.

The report by lead inspector Theresa Phillips criticised the Swale Academies Trust school for inconsistencies in teaching and found not all pupils were “supported or challenged well enough to do their best”.

Other issues highlighted were where the most able pupils “do not achieve as well as they should, although their progress is improving”.

In the sixth form, they found expectations were not “consistently high enough” to see the most able students achieve the highest A-level grades.

It said the school should focus on improving the consistency of teaching by challenging all pupils, including the most able, to think deeply and explain what they have learned.

Staff should also make sure measures are in place to improve learning of disadvantaged pupils.

Responding to the report, head teacher Simon Cox said: “We are pleased they did acknowledge the fact children are making good progress here.

“These days it’s about the core English, maths and academic subjects but it is always going to be difficult to be outstanding if we are measured mainly on those subjects.

“We are pleased every aspect of the school was judged as good.

“The area for improvement in terms of teaching and learning is something we have hit very hard already. As a whole group of teachers we are looking how best to plan lessons and deliver and assess them.

“The report was really, really praise worthy of behaviour in school and the fact there is mutual respect and children are happy, they feel safe and it is a caring environment.

“The reputation the school has in the community and what children tell their parents is probably more significant but of course Ofsted gives parents a good guide.

“It is right and proper schools are accountable.”

Ms Phillips praised the school for teachers’ strong subject knowledge, pupils’ behaviour, safeguarding arrangements for pupils, the curriculum offering, leadership and careers education.

Inspectors sat in on 55 lessons, scrutinised work books and held meetings with leaders.

They also heard from 49 of the 1,580 pupils and eight in 10 of the 157 parents surveyed said they would recommend the school.

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