Staffing problems have led to a decline in standards at a Widnes primary school, Ofsted inspectors have found.

All Saints Upton in Hough Green Road has been given a “requires improvement” rating after an inspection in March.

In a report published on Wednesday (June 24), Ofsted inspectors said there had been “significant issues” with staffing and governance at the school, resulting in “a decline in pupils’ achievement” since the last inspection in 2015.

The inspection also found that some pupils were absent “too often” and school leaders were “unclear” about the impact of the curriculum on pupils’ learning.

However, the report struck an optimistic note regarding the school’s future, saying a change in leadership had brought “a greater urgency to turn around the fortunes of the school”.

Pupils are already said to be “learning better than previously” and attendance is improving, although the inspectors said there was still “some way to go”.

The report said: “The quality of current pupils’ work in English and mathematics is good. This is because staff now have higher expectations of what pupils can achieve.  “Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are fully included in all aspects of school life. “ The inspectors added that pupils were well behaved and “well prepared for life in modern Britain”, while teachers were particularly praised for their success in teaching children to read.