The interim head teacher of a north Norfolk school says IT has taken steps to improve following a damning Ofsted report which rated it 'inadequate' in January 2017.

The Department for Education wrote a letter ordering All Saints School in Lessingham, near Stalham, to put in place an action plan to address its shortcomings in August this year, saying the plan should have been implemented by November 15.

Susan Gothard, interim head teacher of the independent school, said: 'The action plan answered clearly the questions that were raised in the letter. The school is making sure it addresses all the issues in last year's report.

'All Saints Lessingham is moving forward extremely well and we look forward to a good or better Ofsted when it comes.'

Inspectors had found safeguarding at the school was 'not effective', with files relating to child protection incidents 'poorly maintained'.

Ofsted's report, which followed a visit in November 2016, said: 'Scrutiny of personnel files could not confirm whether identity and medical checks had been carried out, whether any teachers are prohibited from teaching, and if references had been sought for all staff appointed at the school.'

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The report said there were also issues around site security, which gave inspectors 'considerable cause for concern'.

The letter, sent by the department's independent education and boarding team and including a notice from Damian Hinds, the secretary of state for education, said the school was required to address 'serious regulatory failings' in relation to standard, which 'are not being met in relation to the school'.

The letter said: 'The action plan must contain reasonable time scales for implementation within which the necessary action will be taken and it is expected that the implementation dates given in the action plan should not extend beyond 15 November 2018.

'If an action plan is accepted, Ofsted may be asked to visit the school again to check that the school has fully implemented the plan and that it is fully meeting the independent school standards.'

All Saints School has a senior as well as a junior department which caters to children from ages seen to 16.

The school's website states: 'We have a happy and caring family ethos, where everyone is respected and staff and pupils have high expectations of themselves and others.'