Mullion Primary School has dropped from 'good' to 'requires improvement' in its first Ofsted since becoming an academy.

It received the rating across almost every area of inspection, aside from early years provision.

While acknowledging steps were being taken, inspectors still ranked quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management as requiring improvement, as well as its overall effectiveness.

The most recent inspection before this was in March 2015, when the school was rated 'good' after rectifying issues identified two years earlier, when it was again rated as 'requires improvement'.

The 158-pupil school then converted into an academy in 2017, joining the Southerly Point Co-operative Multi-Academy Trust, and this is the first Ofsted inspection since that process, under new executive headteacher Duncan Ratcliffe.

In the report, published last Thursday following a visit from inspectors in early February, it was found that staff had different expectations of pupils' behaviour, with some pupils not always trying their best in their work.

However, Mullion was described by parents as "a real community school" and inspectors found children in the early years learnt well.

The teaching of English was found to be successful, with reading identified as a priority, but handwriting skills were not being carried into other subjects, where "learning is not as well planned", said inspectors.

Maths was developing in year one and two, but upper key stage two pupils had "considerable gaps" in knowledge, including some basic number and calculation skills, due to a "lack of coherence" in the curriculum.

Inspectors found that steps were being taken to improve pupils' personal development, with staff training as mental health first aiders and 'autism champions', and that a new special educational needs co-ordinator had helped tackle priorities.

Leaders were doing all they could to promote pupil attendance.

Behaviour was found to be "generally calm" in classrooms, but when tasks were not challenging enough pupils could distract others and further improvement was needed.

"The executive headteacher has introduced systems and processes for improving the quality of education. The school needs time to secure these systems and raise standards," added the report.

Headteacher Mr Ratcliffe said: "The recent Ofsted showed the commitment of the staff, governors and the Southerly Point Multi-Academy Trust to provide the very best for the pupils in Mullion Primary school and points to the improvements over recent months.

"I am proud of the staff and pupils who work hard every day. We are making real progress and look forward to seeing the impact of this work.

"Pupils are always keen to share their learning and had the opportunity tell inspectors how safe they feel they feel in school and how all staff support them.

"The parents are very supportive of the school and positive about the future as well as current developments. We have already written plans and put into place small changes as a result of the inspection.

"I am sure that the future of the school is secure and look forward to sharing improvements with parents and when Ofsted return."