INEFFECTIVE teaching and poor leadership and management have been criticised at a Runcorn Primary School.

Ofsted inspectors slammed All Saints CE Primary School in Church Street, rating it as ‘requiring improvement’.

They said too much responsibility rests on the shoulders of head teacher Elaine Harrison.

Lead inspector Lyn Pender said: “Leadership and management require improvement because the actions of leaders have not effectively accelerated pupils’ progress.

“Staff changes have hampered the progress of change.

“The quality of teaching is regularly reviewed by the head teacher. “

Pupils were below average in reading, writing and mathematics.

Ms Pender said: “Not enough pupils reached the higher levels. Pupils’ progress sometimes slows because expectations are not always high enough and work does not stretch pupils sufficiently.”

She said the behaviour of the school’s 93 pupils is good, but they become distracted and lose concentration when the work is too easy.

A Halton Council spokesman said: "Inspectors visited the school at the start of April. Since then the school has been working with the council to bring the school back up to a better standard.

"It is now well on its journey to becoming a good school. There is an improving picture and the leadership and management are proactive in this. They have managed the school well through changing times.

“There were a lot of positive things to come out of the report, including that behaviour and safeguarding were judged to be good, so parents can rest assured their pupils are being looked after well in a positive environment.”