“Students are often around one year behind their peers nationally” - Ofsted release full report into IES Breckland Free School’s inadequate rating

The free school revealed on Monday that Ofsted inspectors, who visited in January, had given the school their lowest possible rating.

• Click here to read the full report

The school also took the unusual step of releasing details of judgments of the report before publication.

These included teaching being rated as inadequate, students failing to reach necessary standards and making insufficient progress, and behaviour of pupils being inadequate.

• IES Breckland Free School rated as 'inadequate' by Ofsted and put into Special Measures

Principal Alison Tilbrook, who joined the school at the end of January, told parents her job was now to implement improvement.

'The task given to me as principal, which I have been glad to take, is to turn around the fortunes of this school, to support staff to improve, and to make beneficial recruitment decisions. This is a challenge for all involved, but one which we are equal to.

'The atmosphere in the school is fantastic and there is a real determination to succeed from staff and students. Our students are incredibly willing to learn and up to the challenge of working to achieve the best results they can,' she said.