THE Wellington Academy in Ludgershall has been told by Ofsted inspectors that it needs to improve.

A report on the school says not enough effort is going into teaching students to write well, youngsters do not make enough progress in English and maths, and bullying is not well managed.

Inspectors, who visited the flagship £32m school in January, said the school requires improvement in four categories: achievement of pupils, quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils, and leadership and management.

The report said the amount of good and outstanding teaching is spread too thinly across the school, some students have to wait too long before their work is marked and, in some lessons, the work is too easy or not explained well, which has a negative impact on students’ attitudes and enthusiasm for learning.

It said the governing body has not taken the necessary steps to improve governance since the last inspection, or worked to ensure that systems for monitoring safeguarding arrangements are watertight.

The sixth form also requires improvement, as inspectors felt the combination of determined leadership and good provision has yet to result in better achievement for all sixth form students.

The school, which is sponsored by Wellington College, Berkshire, has 1,100 students, including 100 boarders.

Inspectors said provision for boarders is good, and they feel safe and well cared for, but the “overall effectiveness of the boarding experience” was graded inadequate as the school does not meet all the National Minimum Standards for boarding schools.

But the report remarked that the new principal of the school, Mike Milner, who took on the role in September, has “exceptional leadership qualities”.

It said: “The principal, supported by the executive headteacher, is determined and fully committed in the pursuit of excellence for the students and community of The Wellington Academy.

“Policies and procedures which are key to turning around behaviour, and encouraging students to engage with a renewed focus on high aspirations for themselves, have been implemented.

“There is no room for complacency and the distance travelled already is impressive.”

The report also commented positively on the broad range of experiences in and out of school which “deepen students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness”.

Principal Mike Milner said: “Since taking over as principal, I have worked with the staff to bring about significant changes, which Ofsted acknowledged.

“We are continuing that work and the aim is to get the school to ‘good’ next time Ofsted visits.

Many positives were noted in the report.”