A SCHOOL which was slammed by Ofsted for having pupils up to nine months behind others, has been told it is taking enough action to improve.

Hilltop Junior School, in Hill Avenue, Wickford, was classed as requiring improvement in September last year.

Inspectors found some Year 6 pupils were nine months behind others in 2012 and said teaching and pupils’ achievements were not “consistently good”. Their report also said not enough was done to stretch the most able pupils.

Due to the now stricter Ofsted guidelines schools requiring improvement are placed under closer scrutiny.

In a follow-up inspection, which was carried out last month, inspector Robert Lovett, said: “Expectations have been raised so that all pupils are expected to make good progress.

“There are early indications that this, together with improved teaching, is beginning to raise standards.”

He added pupils listen carefully and are eager to learn, but while feedback for teachers had improved, more needed to be done to spell out what improvements were having a positive impact on pupil attainment.