TEACHERS lacking subject knowledge and class-dodging pupils have seen a Reading school plummet down the education watchdog's ratings.

Reading Girls' School has slumped to an 'inadequate' status after inspectors found its leaders have failed to pick up on significant downfalls.

The education watchdog found that students have fallen behind the national standards in lessons like English and bosses are not carrying out proper checks to ensure pupils are safe.

Vivienne Angus, headteacher, said the school has already devised an action plan to propel itself back up the rankings, adding: "The school - its staff, leadership and governors - can only express our disappointment at the result of the Ofsted inspection.

“The outcome has only served to strengthen our resolve to build on the opportunities on offer at Reading Girls’ School.

“While we appreciate the hard work ahead of us, we feel the school has many strengths which we can build upon."

The education watchdog visited the Northumberland Avenue school in December last year, and blasted the school's chiefs.

Inspectors have told bosses that pupils' behaviour needs to improve and staffers are not giving students useful guidance on how to improve.

The report says the school's governance "lacks ambition" and teachers have been rewarded for work inspectors deem poor.

It continues: "Governors are too quick to explain the recent decline in attainment and progress as a consequence of curriculum changes and new GSCE specifications rather than questioning the quality of teaching, learning and leadership.

"Too little of teachers’ planning drives learning effectively. In the majority of lessons, teaching does not ensure that pupils of all abilities learn well.

"The support and help for pupils who need to catch-up in English is not effective. Many staff who are teaching literacy lack appropriate subject knowledge.

"Some groups of pupils do not attend regularly. Steps taken to remedy this have not been effective."

Cllr Tony Jones, Reading Borough Council's lead member for education, added: "Obviously the council is disappointed with the outcome of the recent Ofsted inspection of Reading Girls’ School but we are determined and focused on working with the school to remedy any weaknesses.

“Council officers are already working with the school to address the issues highlighted by the inspectors and will continue to do so alongside the Department for Education and Ofsted.

“We recognise there is a lot of work to do but we are determined to see Reading Girls’ School make fast and sustainable progress towards at least a ‘Good’ rating."

Reading Girls School scored 'inadequate' in each of the inspector's boxes, which includes effectiveness of leadership and management, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, personal development, behaviour and welfare, outcomes for pupils and 16 to 19 study programmes.

Governors have also been told they can not employ newly qualified teachers until Ofsted is satisfied improvements have been made.