OFSTED inspectors have said that The Bishop of Hereford’s Bluecoat School requires improvement while they also raised concerns about the quality of teaching.

The latest Ofsted report said the secondary school in Tupsley requires improvement in three out of the four main categories, but did classify personal development, behaviour and welfare as good.

The latest inspection report compares badly with the 2012 visit when the Hereford school was rated good overall while the behaviour of pupils was noted as outstanding.

The inspector said this year that leaders and managers, including governors, have not ensured that the school has continued to provide a good quality of education since the previous visit.

The report said while there is some very high quality teaching in the school, the quality of teaching is inconsistent and it has not led to good outcomes for pupils over time.

Assessment information is not systematically used by the teachers, the report added, while the quality of middle leadership is variable.

The inspector also said that additional funding to support disadvantaged pupils and those who start at the school with low prior attainment has not been used effectively.

Pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities have, the report continued, made slower progress from their starting points and attend less regularly than other pupils in the school.

However, the report did make clear that the headteacher and senior leaders are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the school and they are beginning to take appropriate action to make improvements.

The report also said pupils behaved well and the “spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and fundamental British values are promoted well in this caring school.”

A letter sent to parents from the school said recent Ofsted frameworks have significantly increased the challenge for schools.

The letter said areas of improvement have already been highlighted and systems have been put in place to improve outcomes and achieve consistency across the school.

The letter said: “On the basis of the current more challenging national framework we believe the judgement that our school requires improvement to be a fair one.

"Bishops has many good elements but needs to improve on some other aspects to make it securely good."