THE head of business affairs at Queensmead School has said that criticisms made by schools inspectors from Ofsted have been welcomed and will be dealt with promptly.

The school in Kings Road - formerly called Brigidine - received an ‘emergency inspection’ by Ofsted after complaints had been raised.

Inspectors found that the school was not providing appropriate support for pupils with special educational needs or providing independent careers advice - which meant it did not meet the standards required of an independent school.

But there was praise as well.

The inspectors’ report said that sixth form students received helpful tuition and made good progress in literary and mathematical skills, receiving feedback and encouragement in lessons and forming good relationships with pupils.

It also said that pupils felt safe in the school and that bullying was not a problem.

The school was previously inspected over the years by the ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate).

Dawn Fleming, the school’s head of business affairs, said it had has chosen to switch its inspection regime to Ofsted because it believed it was more focussed.

The preliminary visit by Ofsted comes ahead of the first official inspection which will give the school specific gradings and Mrs Fleming said it had been helpful.

She said: “We will now work with renewed vigour to make sure everything is as good as Ofsted would want it to be.”

The school has recently been granted permission to take boarders and provides education for pupils aged between two and 19.