The team at a Chandler's Ford education centre which plummeted in the Ofsted ratings following a recent inspection is ‘disappointed’ with its new rating.

The Hampshire SCITT Partnership has been rated ‘requires improvement’ by Ofsted.

The centre, based at Thornden School, trains primary and secondary school teachers and received the grade following an inspection in May.

It received ‘requires improvement’ in the following categories: the quality of education and training, and leadership and management.

This was a drop from its previous ‘outstanding’ rating which was awarded in 2016.

Although ‘strong pastoral support’ for all trainees helps them ‘successfully navigate the course’s demands’, the training is not well designed.

The inspection report reads: "Despite these strong foundations, the training curriculum has not been sufficiently well designed across its different elements to embed the core content framework (CCF) fully, particularly in the secondary phase."

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It was noted that there is a ‘lack of clarity’ and knowledge at different levels about how the CCF is, or should be, embedded in the secondary training programme.

And trainees do not receive clear and consistent messages about important aspects such as adaptive teaching.

But, ‘rigorous recruitment procedures’ help leaders recognise trainees’ potential and set the standard for the high calibre of professionalism the partnership promotes.

Bosses have said they ‘disappointed’ with the outcome but are determined to improve.

Su Whelan, CEO of HISP Multi Academy Trust, said: "We are disappointed that the SCITT Partnership’s work has been downgraded by Ofsted, and the effect of that is to reduce our grade.

“We have put in place a robust action plan to cover all the areas referenced by the Ofsted inspectors and to get back to Outstanding at the earliest possible opportunity.

“We were pleased that Ofsted recognised the strong sense of professionalism within the SCITT, the strong relationships that are formed and the close partnerships we have with partner schools."