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An inspection has found pupils 'making racist comments' and leadership failing disadvantaged children at a large city primary school.

In four years the Trinity Catholic Primary School, in Titchfield Street, Vauxhall , has plummeted from a 'Good' overall rating to the lowest 'Inadequate' rating, according to schools watchdog Ofsted .

The most recent inspection, carried out in March, found that pupils’ outcomes and teaching, learning and assessment are now 'Inadequate' with disadvantaged children underachieving "considerably."

Early years provision was still classed as Good, but leadership and the behaviour and development of pupils were rated as 'Requires Improvement'.

According to Ofsted figures, around half the school's 377 registered pupils are classed as disadvantaged, which is above the national average.

(Image: Andy Teebay/LIVERPOOL ECHO)

The report noted that despite recent improvement, pupils were still "absent far too often" and "some pupils occasionally use hurtful or racist language."

However Ofsted acknowledged that newly installed headteacher Rebecca Flynn has "acted swiftly" to begin the "huge, uphill task" of turning things around after taking over in September.

The report states: "Since the previous inspection, the quality of education at the school has slipped markedly.

"Leaders and governors failed to respond to pupils’ low attainment and poor progress over time in key stages 1 and 2.

"Leaders did not check the quality of teaching, learning and assessment well enough or help teachers and teaching assistants to improve their practice. Despite much help being offered to the school by the local authority and archdiocese in recent years, leaders and governors did not make good use of this assistance."

(Image: Andy Teebay/LIVERPOOL ECHO)

The report painted a dismal picture of teaching standards in the school, and said until recently governors were failing to ensure improvements were being made.

The inspectors stated: "The quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate, except in the early years.

"Over time, leaders have not resolved weaknesses in teaching. Teachers have not received the help that they need to improve their practice...

"Teachers do not plan work well enough to develop pupils’ skills, deepen their understanding or provide the right level of challenge for them, especially for the most able."

Teaching of reading came in for particular criticism in the report, with Ofsted noting: "The teaching of reading is not good enough across both key stages.

"Some teachers do not extend pupils’ vocabulary or improve pupils’ comprehension skills. Teachers do not check pupils’ understanding of new words or technical vocabulary. Some pupils are not reading books of the right level of difficulty for them."

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Other problems included children displaying a "weak" knowledge of geography and history "because teachers do not teach these subjects well enough or in any depth."

While behaviour has improved under Ms Flynn, the inspectors said there are still some older pupils who "continue to cause others to be upset."

There are positive sign under the school's new leadership, and the Ofsted report said: "From September 2018, the huge uphill task of resolving the many problems in the school has stepped up a gear.

"The new headteacher has a clear and ambitious vision for the future of The Trinity Primary School. Together with her interim leadership team, she understands the issues facing the school.

"Senior leaders have established precise priorities for improvement. They have taken swift action to halt the decline in the standard of education."

The school referred enquiries from the ECHO about the report to Liverpool Council .

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A council spokeswoman said: "The city council is working closely with the Archdiocese of Liverpool and Trinity primary school to address the issues raised in the Ofsted report.

"A new experienced head teacher is quickly implementing the necessary changes which is having a positive impact on behaviour and attendance.

"Each school in the city has a zero tolerance approach to racist behaviour, with a focus on educating pupils on the importance of living in a diverse and inclusive community."