THE headteacher of a failing primary school has left after it was put in “special measures” and graded as “inadequate” by education watchdogs.

It is the second time Bramley Church of England Primary has been graded as “inadequate” by Ofsted while being led by Ann Berresford, who was head at the school, in Bramley Lane, Bramley, in 2009 when it was given a notice to improve by Ofsted.

Miss Berresford joined Bramley School around 10 years ago, having been head at Chineham Park Primary School in Popley, Basingstoke.

The latest damning report, published by Ofsted on January 18, listed a catalogue of failings at the school, including pupils’ achievement, the leadership and management of the school, and the quality of teaching.

Only pupil behaviour was not given the lowest grading, and was instead said to “require improvement”.

The report said: “In too many lessons, teachers do not set high enough expectations, especially about how much pupils should achieve. This limits pupils’ progress.”

It added: “Pupils have positive attitudes towards school, showing courtesy and respect towards adults and other pupils. They mostly behave well in lessons because teachers create a calm working climate for learning.”

The report criticised the leaders and managers, and said they have not “done enough to improve teaching.”

It added: “The management of teachers’ performance has not been rigorous enough. Members of staff say that in the previous year, there was no formal arrangement to appraise how well they were doing.

“However, teachers also report that the leadership team has this year put in place performance management arrangements for members of staff that include targets to improve leadership and the outcomes for their pupils.”

The report said the school, which has 410 pupils, is not “showing the capacity to secure further improvement” and it has not successfully tackled issues raised at the last inspection in 2010, when it was graded as “satisfactory”.

The governing body was graded as “inadequate” by the inspectors, who said: “The governing body as a whole does not know enough about how well the school is doing, the impact of the performance management of staff on the quality of their teaching and leadership, or about how the school rewards good teaching and tackles underperformance.”

Chair of the governors Nicky Parker said: “We are very clear about what needs to be done to move the school forward.

“The school is well placed to be turned around quickly, and I really believe we can make Bramley an outstanding school.

“I have huge faith in the senior leadership team to drive through changes quickly and effectively.

“I am confident these improvements, and those already made, will be built on, moving forward.”

Mrs Parker was brought in to help strengthen the governing board in July 2012. The Ofsted report noted her work since then, and said: “In a short time, the new chair of the governing body has started to gain a clear overview and accurate understanding of the main issues in governance, leadership and management, provision for teaching and pupils’ achievement.

“Weaknesses in governors’ previous performance management of the headteacher are being addressed.”

Lyn Downes, headteacher at Burnham Copse Primary School, in Tadley, was appointed as acting head at Bramley on January 1.

She is still also head of Burnham Copse, where Ali Armstrong has taken the position of acting head in her absence.

Last year, Hampshire County Council, the local education authority, approved plans to spend £1.6million to extend Bramley Primary to cater for 100 more pupils.

Councillor Roy Perry, executive lead member of children’s services at Hampshire County Council, was not available for an interview with The Gazette with regards to Bramley Primary School and how it has been allowed to fall into “special measures” twice.

The council said it is continuing to offer support to the school.