A West Cumbrian primary school has been criticised for its "fragile, turbulent" leadership in a damning inspection report.

Lamplugh Primary School has been judged as 'inadequate' by Ofsted - the lowest rating possible.

The school, which teaches only 19 pupils, had been told it needed to improve after its last inspection in February 2017.

But the education watchdog found the standard of education had not improved following a full inspection in May.

The school was given an 'inadequate' rating for effectiveness of leadership and management and was told the quality of teaching, learning and assessment 'requires improvement', as does its outcomes for pupils.

However, personal development, behaviour and welfare was rated as 'good'.

The report says a succession of temporary headteachers has hindered the school's improvement and this "fragility in leadership" has contributed to the slow response to the areas of improvement identified at the previous inspection.

In the report, Ofsted inspector Mavis Smith says leaders "do not have an accurate view of the school's effectiveness" and "do not give teachers the training they need", which has slowed improvements to teaching and learning.

The inspector also says the most able children do not make the progress they are capable of because "teachers do not have high enough expectations" of what they can achieve.

She adds that children's success in learning phonics is sometimes hampered by teachers' "weak planning".

However, the report does praise the school's improvements in teaching mathematics and its provision for personal development.

The school has now been told it must urgently tackle the weaknesses in leadership and improve the quality of teaching, learning and assessment.

It must also improve children's outcomes, especially in writing, and make sure teachers raise their expectations of what pupils can achieve.

Lisa Hemingway, who is currently head of St Bridget’s School in Brigham, was recently appointed as the new executive head of Lamplugh Primary School.

She said: "Although I have only been at the school for a few weeks I have seen good teaching and learning in all areas and have recognised the progress the school has made in the last 12 months.

"However I can also see the effect the lack of consistent leadership has had throughout the school, and it is now my job to develop and strengthen the strategic overview so improvements can be made."

Mrs Hemingway said improvements had already been made since the inspection, with a 100 per cent pass rate in the Year One Phonics Screening Check and in the Early Years Good Level of Development.

She added she was confident that the school will make the necessary steps to improve outcomes and that they already have plans to further develop the Early Years by creating a new outside learning environment.