A headteacher is confident improvements will be made after an inspector raised concerns about pupil achievement.

Ofsted has rated St Margaret’s Primary School, in Church Lane, Toppesfield, as requiring improvement in a report published last Wednesday.

The school, which has 80 pupils, was previously deemed “good” overall when Ofsted visited in 2010.

But inspector Richard Blackmore has called for closer monitoring of the quality of teaching after he observed lessons on January 28 and 29.

The report said: “Although good practice was observed, the quality of teaching is not consistently good across the school and requires improvement, particularly in writing and reading.

“Pupils’ achievement requires improvement because overall they have not made enough progress year-on-year, especially in reading.

“Reading books are not always matched closely to pupils’ abilities and early reading skills are not yet taught consistently well.”

Pupils do typically manage to progress and achieve at the national average rate, in spite of Mr Blackmore’s concerns about teaching.

Headteacher Kim Hall said: “We were pleased that the inspector recognised that our pupils are achieving results that are currently at, or above the national average across the school.

“We also accept that standards are good or better in the great majority of areas, but that we do need to provide greater challenge for our pupils in some subjects.

“Actions and improvements are already in place to make sure that the inspection findings are fully addressed and we are confident that our children are reaching their full potential at St. Margaret’s.”

As part of the inspection, Mr Blackmore observed eight lessons alongside Mrs Hall, and met with pupils, staff and governors.