A DUDLEY secondary school has been told it requires improvement following a visit from Ofsted.

While inspectors recognised that Castle High School was "well led" and standards were rising, it was concluded that last year "too few pupils made the progress expected".

Quality of teaching was deemed to be "improving" but "variable" and during last month's inspection it was noted that while most pupils were "well behaved and polite", "some disruption" was observed in lessons "usually because the work set was not engaging or did not have sufficient challenge".

Inspectors also found that the proportion of pupils getting five or more GCSE grades A* to C, including English and maths was "still too low" but reported a current "picture of improvement", which indicated that the rates of progress in English would improve this year and the proportion of pupils making expected progress would be similar to that of pupils nationally.

Headteacher Michelle King told the News: "Following a dip in exam results in the summer of 2015, everyone at Castle High has been working with commitment and enthusiasm to ensure that this year’s results fully reflect the progress which has been made by our students.

"Naturally we were disappointed with 2015’s results, which prevented everyone at the school getting the recognition they all deserve but it makes us doubly determined to ensure that we will be celebrating our students’ examination results this summer."

She continued: "The recent Ofsted report reflects the position in which the school currently finds itself and shows the confidence inspectors have in the expected improvements that will be seen in this summer’s results.

"Our current data demonstrates clearly that we are on target to celebrate good results and we aim to invite inspectors back into school to show that we have achieved our aims."

Addressing pupils' behaviour, Ms King said: "Whilst inspectors have said that the behaviour of students requires improvement, this is in the context of more stringent criteria by which student behaviour is measured.

"Inspectors praised the behaviour and attitude of the vast majority of students, noting particularly that it is a 'small number of pupils' who make 'poor choices regarding their conduct'.

"The school works hard – and will continue to work hard – with the parents and carers of these few students to change their behaviour.

"If they continue to let us down, they are aware that school will be resolute in its determination to prevent them from further disrupting the learning of others."

Ms King said the school was "pleased" that Ofsted recognised the work which goes on in school to promote the personal development and welfare of students was 'good', adding: "This, together with the other strengths highlighted by inspectors, clearly indicates the capacity which exists in the school to make further improvements."

To read the Ofsted report in full, click here.