AN OFSTED inspection has found standards at Coxheath Primary School, near Maidstone, to be unsatisfactory in many subjects.

The inspectors say the pupils are taught by a team of dedicated and hardworking teachers and support staff, yet "standards are too low in many subjects and there are significant patches of underachievement".

They also say there are serious weaknesses in the leadership and management of the school and that it is currently offering "unsatisfactory value for money".

Their comments follow an inspection of the school, which draws its pupils from the village and the outlying rural area, in July. The inspectors say:

* Standards in many subjects are too low, especially for the high-attaining pupils.

* Teaching is not good enough in the lower junior years.

*Provision for information and communication technology is unsatisfactory.

* The leadership and management of the school are unsatisfactory.

* The planning and monitoring of the curriculum do not ensure the progressive development of the pupils' learning.

* The lavatory arrangements, particularly in the junior years, are unsatisfactory.

On the positive side, the inspectors describe it as "a happy school where pupils are enthusiastic and keen to learn". The school is also said to do a number of things well:

* Provision for the children in the Foundation Stage is a strength of the school and the learning environment in Years 1 and 2 is lively and stimulating.

* There is good provision for the moral and social development of pupils that fosters good behaviour and positive attitudes to learning.

* The school caters well for pupils with special educational needs.

* The pupils have a real enthusiasm for learning.

Of teaching and learning, the report says: "The quality of teaching is satisfactory overall, with much teaching that is good and a small proportion of very good teaching. There is also a significant percentage of teaching that is unsatisfactory.

"English, mathematics and science are taught satisfactorily. Literacy is not taught satisfactorily, whilst the teaching of numeracy is mostly effective."

It adds: "The school does well in meeting the needs of pupils with special educational needs and works well with the children from travellers' families to support their learning."

The school says that governors and staff are already working hard to improve on the weaknesses identified. A new computer suite to be opened shortly will have an immediate and positive effect on the provision of information and communication technology.

In addition the appointment of a permanent deputy head teacher and the identification of new subject managers are said to have developed the management team.

Vic Codling, the chairman of governors, said: "We look on this as an exciting time for our school and we will have the opportunity to make use of additional resources and expertise made available to us to continue to raise standards."