A village junior school is determined to bounce back and rapidly improve after Ofsted said it had to do better and provide more challenge to pupils.

The body that sets standards in the classroom said Ormesby Village Junior School was worse than it was at the last inspection following a “period of turbulence.”

The critical report came against a backdrop of staff changes and recruitment issues after the previous headteacher and some key staff left and the infant school head took up the position sharing her time between the two schools.

It said that while in previous years pupils had achieved well by the end of Year 6 in the most recent tests less that half of pupils who joined the school with average attainment reached the expected standard in reading and very few in maths.

Meanwhile in other subjects more able students were not given “the chance to shine” and more generally teaching was not always matched to pupils’ abilities leading sometimes to chatter and disengagement.

On the plus side attendance was good and children said they enjoyed school which is described as “a welcoming place.”

There was praise too for governors who challenge leaders and carefully consider what steps they can take to support the head.

One aspect that was better since Ofsted’s last visit was the quality and presentation of pupils’ writing.

However inspectors rated the school as “requires improvement” in all four categories as well as overall.

Headteacher Lucy Bates said: “The governors and staff at the school are fully committed to addressing areas identified for improvement quickly, as we are determined that all our pupils are supported to achieve their full potential.

“In the light of inspection findings, we have re-evaluated and revised improvement plans that had already been put in place. These include a rigorous timetable for leaders to check the quality of teaching, and staff are receiving training to challenge children more effectively, so improving their achievement levels and behaviour for learning.

“We are pleased that the inspectors praised areas of strength such as that children feel happy and safe in school, that pupils with special educational needs and disadvantaged pupils make good progress and that the quality of children’s writing and the presentation of work has improved since the last inspection.”

In January 2012 the school was highly rated and judged as “good” overall.