MILFORD Haven School has been judged to need improvement in all areas, in a report by school inspectorate Estyn.

The report, published yesterday (February 1), found standards; care, support and guidance; and leadership to management to be adequate but in need of improvement.

Wellbeing and attitudes to learning, and teaching and learning experiences, were described as unsatisfactory and in need of urgent improvement.

None of the aspects looked at were judged to be 'good' or 'excellent'.

Inspectors said the school had an “inclusive and caring ethos”, with the majority of pupils demonstrating “positive attitudes to learning”.

However, they added, the “poor behaviour and negative attitudes of a minority of pupils has a detrimental effect on school life, as well as disrupting the learning across all year groups”.

Assessment – carried out in November – found that pupils felt safe in school and knew where to go to ask for help, with the majority happy that the school responds suitably to incidents of bullying.

But the overall quality of teaching has come under fire, with many teachers said to have “low expectations of pupils in terms of academic achievement and attitudes to learning”.

The report found there were important weaknesses outweighing the strengths in this category, and has called for urgent improvement.

Recommendations include developing Key Stage 4 progress, in particularly literacy and numeracy; improving pupil behaviour and attitudes to learning; and improving the quality of teaching.

The report also recommends addressing the school’s deficit budget, better planning to develop pupil skills, and improving the quality of impact and leadership.

The school will now have to draw up an action plan outlining how it will address the concerns raised, and Estyn will measure progress in 12 months’ time.