A struggling Gravesend “hell” school has been placed in special measures by Ofsted inspectors after being found inadequate in four out of five areas and key data being “suppressed”.

The inspection into Kings Farm Primary School in Cedar Avenue has come out only a few months after a parents' protest and a third of the teaching staff left.

The report published on December 4 also revealed key Sats data was unavailable for inspection because it was being investigated by a government agency.

News Shopper:

The inspectors said in their report: “The school did not meet government floor standards (Sats) for last year.

“It is not possible to report whether the school met government standards for this year as the data for the achievement of Year 6 pupils has been suppressed by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) pending investigation.

“The inspection team was aware during the inspection of several ongoing investigations by the appropriate authorities into allegations of wrongdoing.”

A spokesman for the STA told News Shopper it is now declaring all the school's test for Key Stage 2 results void.

He said: "Following an investigation into the administration of this year's Key Stage 2 tests at King’s Farm Primary, in Gravesend, the decision was made to annul all tests results for all children.

“Any instances of maladministration of the tests are completely unacceptable.”

The Ofsted inspectors found many other problems in the school.

The leadership and management, quality of teaching, achievement of pupils and early years provision were all deemed to be the lowest standard, described as “inadequate”.

The behaviour and safety of pupils were judged to be at the second lowest standard meaning they “require improvement”.

All five measures had been judged "satisfactory" during the previous Ofsted report in 2012.

There were some positive comments in this years' report and the new head, Catherine Taylor, was praised.

The report said: “The consultant headteacher has made an excellent start. 

"The school is more stable and there is an air of optimism.

“The school provides well for pupils’ personal and social development.”

Kings Farm will now be monitored regularly by Ofsted.

'Turbulent"

Kings Farm School has come in for considerable controversy in the last six months and the inspection report referred to a "high level of turbulence".

In July News Shopper revealed how 25 teachers and teaching staff – two thirds of the school - were leaving due to "significant issues" concerning former executive headteacher Jane Porter, who had been drafted in by Kent County Council (KCC) in January.

News Shopper:

One parent, Emma Friend, 28, described the school as “hell”.

Two months later, in September, News Shopper revealed Ms Porter was leaving after only two terms.

KCC’s director of education, quality and standards Sue Rogers said the school was improving.

She said:  “One key area of concern was the significant staff turnover, which placed the school into an extremely vulnerable position.

“This turbulence has had the knock on effect of disrupting the school’s day-to-day operations, which has resulted in there being an urgent need, during this term, to review and enhance systems for the recording and use of pupil data. 

“However, Kings Farm Primary has undergone a period of significant change since the Ofsted inspection and we are working very closely with the school to bring about rapid improvements and stability to the staffing establishment.”

The school been considered for academy status but this proposal is now on hold.