Brixington Primary School Head and Governors are making an official complaint after a change of mind by Ofsted inspectors.
The original draft report made by inspectors at the Exmouth School gave their Early Years Foundation Stage a 'good' rating, before telling the school that they'll be dropping that rating down for the official published report.
The rating descent followed a lengthy quality assurance process which resulted in Ofsted now categorising the school as 'requiring improvement.'
Headteacher Jonathan Galling and chair of governors, Tristan Bassett, have said: "We disagree with this judgement, as does our evidence, as well as the manner and timing in which the change was implemented. The governing body has made a formal complaint to Ofsted about this grade change and the means by which it has been justified."
Both versions of the report, however, have said that: "Children in the EYFS thoroughly enjoy school, are well looked after and safe. Children skip to school with big smiles on their faces. Parents believe their children are happy, safe and well looked after. They (the EYFS) successfully develop children's speaking and listening skills and are effective in teaching the skills of reading and writing. Assessment of children's progress is rigorous and information is used well to inform planning."
Despite this, the report goes on to say that the overall quality of teaching itself was inadequate. It states that set work was too easy for some pupils and too hard for others, resulting in lapses of the children's concentration and wasted time.
Lead Ofsted Inspector, Rob Ridout, recognised that improvements were being made and that "the school promotes pupils' social, moral, spiritual, and cultural education well" but the report criticises the learning progress of certain areas, including the progress made by maths students at the end of Year 6.
Head, Mr Galling, blames the new, more rigorous Ofsted regime, for not taking into account the significant turnover of staff in recent times that have led to improvements in the children's education. However, he is working to make improvements: "We will be receiving a wide range of additional external support, much of which has already begun and is having an impact."
Brixington's headteacher and chair of governors have stated that they await further contact with Ofsted on the matter.
