BOSSES at a Canvey school have urged parents to “look beyond the overall grade” after being rated “requires improvement” despite an “overwhelmingly positive” report.

The team at Castle View School in Foksville Road, have been left bitterly disappointed after failing to improve on its 2017 “requires improvement” rating.

Following an inspection on December 5 and 6, the school was rated “good” for behaviour and attitudes, “outstanding” for personal development, “good” for leadership and management, but “requires improvement” for the quality of education.

Inspectors were overwhelmingly positive about the school and said, “pupil are responsible and proud to be a part of Castle View School”.

However the report, which has been seen by the Echo and is set to be published in coming days, raised concerns over “inconsistencies” in how the curriculum is taught to pupils.

A new curriculum has been introduced as part of a continued bid to make improvements following the 2017 inspection.

The report added: “The school has done much to address the relatively weak outcomes.

“Where there were weaknesses in curriculum design, leaders have taken effective action to make improvements. They have considered what pupils need to learn and when.

“Some of this work is very new. It is not, at this stage, being consistently used as well as it should be. Sometimes teachers do not teach these new curriculums as well as they might.”

At the time of the inspection there were 1,056 pupils at the school, all aged between 11 and 16 The report stated: “Pupils behave well. Lessons are largely free from disruption.

“Pupils, including those whose behaviour has in the past fallen short of expectations, value the support they get.

“Pupils are happy to attend school. It is a safe and kind place to be.

“The school is highly ambitious for pupils to achieve well. Trust leaders, school leaders and staff are committed to giving pupils the very best preparation for life in modern Britain.”

Andy Hodgkinson, the CEO of Zenith Trust which manages the school, said: “We will continue to provide the school with any resources and support they need to continue their journey of school improvement, and to serve the local community.

“The school is clear what it needs to do to improve further, but it is also important to see beyond just the overall grade, and to recognise all the really positive work highlighted in the report as a whole, including the various subcategories rated as good and outstanding.”

Steve Durkin, headteacher, added: “We are clear about the areas where we still need to improve, and, with the help of our supportive trust, are determined to secure the very best outcomes.

“Equally, we are really proud of our students and staff, and to be part of the wider Canvey community.”