The executive head teacher of a school rated inadequate by Ofsted has vowed to improve things.

A team visited St Edward’s Catholic primary in Sheerness in March and their findings were published earlier this month.

It was considered satisfactory at the previous inspection in 2009, but is now deemed to have serious weaknesses in the achievement of its 210 pupils, quality of teaching and leadership and management.

The behaviour and safety of pupils is slightly better and has been graded as requiring improvement.

Executive head of the New Road school Caroline Jackson said it was an important inspection and there was a clear plan for change which is already in progress.

The report says children do not make enough progress; too much lesson time is wasted; reception class members do not have enough opportunities to be independent; pupils often lose concentration as a result of weak teaching; marking does not always tell students how to improve their work; leaders have not checked and improved teaching and governors have not been given enough information about what’s happening.

Teaching has declined since the previous inspection; outdoor activities are uninspiring; work is too easy and learning is restricted by poorly planned activities and staff talking for too long.

To gain a better rating, inspectors said the school needs to rapidly improve the quality of teaching and pupils’ achievement, improve learning in reception class and improve quality of leadership.

However the report also found the school has strengths in its assistants, who teach pupils well in small groups; some children read very confidently for their age; pupils feel safe and have a clear understanding of how to help and respect others and teaching in Year 5 and 6 is more effective as youngsters are given time to think deeply and reflect on their learning.

Pupils make better progress in reading as a result of effective literacy teaching; there is a generally positive atmosphere within the school; children understand online dangers and how to remain safe from hazards; their spiritual, moral, social and culture awareness is developed well and the way they are encouraged to share their ambitions helps relationships to be harmonious and mutually respectful.

Executive head Caroline Jackson said: “This report has to be treated as an important and serious challenge to what we are doing – and an opportunity to improve.

“We know from the report St Edward’s has strengths – from the behaviour of the children and the approach to attendance to our teaching assistants and the spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness of pupils.

“However, there is a lot of work that needs to be done.

“There are opportunities to draw on more of the excellence and experience of St Peter’s Catholic Primary School in Sittingbourne, which is rated outstanding and linked to St Edward’s through a federation.

“I believe that we can make more of this connection, to help meet the expectations that all of us have, from parents to inspectors and teachers to governors – all of us want the best possible education for children and this is what we will be working hard to provide.

“There is good practice on the doorstep and we need to put that to work to bring rapid improvements to St Edward’s.”