�A Romford school, which was placed in special measures after being rated inadequate last year, has been rated satisfactory in its latest monitoring report.

Crowlands Primary School, in London Road, was given the lowest score available by Ofsted inspectors last May and was put in special measures. This meant the council would monitor it until it improved sufficiently.

Inspector Kekshan Salaria said the progress since being put in special measures and since the last monitoring inspection were both satisfactory. But the school may still not appoint newly qualified teachers.

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Staff changes included the previous executive headteacher left in the summer, and a new headteacher who started in September. One teacher has left the school and five other members of staff will leave at the end of this term.

The inspection found that Year 6 pupil’s attainment is in line with the national average in English, but it is still below average in mathematics.

The report said: “Teachers are beginning to be held to account more regularly for progress through ongoing assessments by their senior leaders. However, there is still too much inconsistency of practice and the monitoring of improvement by senior leaders lacks sufficient rigour.”

Ofsted said the school has made good progress at reducing persistent absences since the last monitoring inspection in May.

Pupils’ behaviour was good and inspectors said in their report: “Even when lessons are uninteresting, pupils concentrate and try their best. They are friendly, polite, and relationships are usually good.”

Meanwhile most of the teaching was rated satisfactory or better, but there was still some inadequate teaching. “This in the main is due to teachers not using assessment information sufficiently well to provide activities matched to pupils’ individual needs.”

The council has supported the school to improve the effectiveness of new leadership at the school, but the inspection showed “there has been little improvement in teaching and learning.”

Ofsted inspectors said: “The headteacher has an increasingly accurate view of the school’s performance, but has not confronted inadequate performance with sufficient rigour.” The council has also been asked to support the development of senior leaders.