A Southampton headteacher has written a formal complaint to Ofsted after his school received an "unfair" rating.

Inspectors who visited Mason Moor Primary School in June found the school to be good in every area, except for quality of education.

The 'requires improvement' rating in this category affected the school’s overall grade.

After the report was published, the executive headteacher of the Millbrook-based school started a complaints process against Ofsted, challenging the grade and appealing to the school’s regional director.

Daniel Constable-Phelps told the Echo: “The school was a cause for concern for the local authority last year because the results the last few years were in the bottom one per cent nationally.

“I joined Mason Moor Primary in September 2022, and since then we’ve improved massively – this year recording the best SATS results in the school’s history.”

READ MORE: The Ofsted ratings for secondary schools in Southampton

Ofsted contacted the school to notify staff they would be conducting their assessment two weeks before the school’s 2023 results were released.

Daily Echo:

The timing of the visit has been called into question by Mr Constable-Phelps who believes the school should have been judged on its most recent academic grades – as Mason Moor Primary School was downgraded from ‘Good’ in 2017.

He said: “The first thing the lead inspector said to me was – ‘I know you’re going to be disappointed’.

“Why not give us more time? If we’ve improved as much as we have in nine months, think where we can be in two years.

“It seems really unfair and like you’re being judged for previous failings.

“The school has been in a lot of turmoil recently, going through three or four different head teachers in three years.

“We were rated good in every other category and parents are delighted.”

He added: “The community doesn’t need a school that’s not performing well.

“I grew up in a similar sort of neighbourhood in Manchester and couldn’t read or write until I was about 11 years old.

“I know what our students are going through, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.

“Many of them are now heading to secondary school with the best possible grades.”

Having challenged the Ofsted rating, Mr Constable-Phelps hopes the watchdog will reconsider the grade – and if rejected, revisit the school within the next 18 months.

Ofsted said it doesn't comment on individual schools or inspections.

However, a spokesperson said the school's curriculums and teachings are also considered before reaching a judgement - not only pupil outcomes.