OFSTED inspectors have warned a town school could face special measures after being awarded a clean sweep of inadequate ratings across the board in its latest inspection.

St Luke’s School on Cricklade Road was rated as inadequate in all key areas during an inspection carried out at the beginning of November, a report published this week has revealed.

The inspectors found the school’s work to keep pupils safe was inadequate, the behaviour of pupils was poor and pupils do not learn how to control their emotions. They added that a large number continue to be aggressive to adults and each other.

Pupils’ achievement was found to be inadequate, while standards and expectations of what pupils can achieve were too low. “All groups of pupils fail to make the progress they should in a range of subjects,” the report states. “The curriculum does not meet the needs of pupils. It does not help prepare pupils for future sustained employment or life in modern Britain.

“Teachers do not demand enough of pupils. Work is not well matched to pupils’ abilities and behaviour in lessons is poorly managed.”

But the inspectors praised the “vision and high aspirations” of the new chair of the governing body, executive headteacher and new head of school as being “suitably ambitious”. “They are fully aware of what needs to be done and in what order,” the inspectors stated. “They have instigated changes such as ensuring that pupils take greater pride in their appearance and wear the correct uniform. However, they have not yet had time to have the required impact on those significant weak aspects of the school’s work. Resources are tight; the school remains in financial deficit.”

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “Improving education provision is a high priority for the council and we have been working intensively with St Luke’s, particularly since the resignation of the previous headteacher in the summer term.

“We are providing specialist support to the school with a focus on social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) in order to help teachers deliver good quality education, while providing individual support to pupils.

“We have also brokered a partnership with a local school, Crowdy’s Hill, so St Luke’s can benefit from additional leadership support and a new head of school started in post the day before Ofsted carried out its inspection.

“In addition, we are working with the office of the Regional Schools Commissioner for the South West to find a sponsor to work with the school to enable it to become an academy. This could bring additional resources into the school as well as skills and expertise to improve teaching and the curriculum provided.

“A new governing body will be in place shortly to bring about swift changes and improvements so the many issues identified in the report are addressed.

“We were, however, very pleased to see that the report acknowledged some of the changes that have already been brought in, such as the vision of the new executive headteacher and chair of governors, the nurture work and breakfast start of the day, and the improvements to some aspects of teaching. We will continue to work with the school to bring about the necessary improvements.”