Isle of Wight secondary school, Christ the King College, has retained a 'requires improvement' Ofsted rating, despite winning 'good' in four out of five areas.

Its quality of education 'requires improvement', an Ofsted report has found, and the college's overall rating remains the same.

Reacting to the report, headteacher, Andrew Montrose said: “Whilst we are disappointed with and sceptical of the 'requires improvement' judgement overall, there is a palpable positivity amongst the staff and students.”

In a letter to parents, the school said it 'fundamentally disagreed with the overall outcome' and had lodged a formal complaint, calling into question whether 'due diligence and fairness' had been applied.

Ofsted did not uphold its complaints and told the County Press, while it does not comment on individual reports, 'all our inspection judgements are subject to a fair and thorough quality assurance processes.'

Ofsted visited the school in Carisbrooke on November 28 and 29 and the report has just been published.

According to the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills, the school has a well-designed curriculum, and where teaching is strong, including in the sixth form, pupils achieve well.

However, teachers do not always deliver the curriculum consistently well and this limits pupils’ learning in some subject, the Ofsted report reads.

The report says while teachers often provide clear explanations, which help to build pupils’ understanding in several subjects, teachers are less clear about how to break down and demonstrate important ideas.

Ofsted found teachers do not assess where pupils are starting from in their understanding of topics or concepts at times and teachers do not always check how much pupils have understood, or what they need to learn next.

As a result, pupils are not achieving as well as they should, inspectors found.

For the school, Mr Montrose said: “Ofsted has recognised and acknowledged the improvements we have made in all areas of school life since our last inspection."

He pointed to Ofsted's acknowledgement of "great sixth-form provision" and the wide and varied aspects of school life, which make personal development another of its strengths.

“We will continue to serve our community with passion and purpose, and with a strategic vision that enhances and supports the education and well-being of our students," said Mr Montrose.

Ofsted said pupils behave well and described the school as generally calm and orderly.

It recognised a clear system for addressing disruptive behaviour and said pupils are typically happy and feel safe.

“Across each key stage, pupils benefit from effective and caring pastoral support," wrote Ofsted.

“Sixth-form students take up a range of leadership roles within the school, and this is mutually beneficial in building confidence and perseverance.

“This reflects the school’s inclusive and welcoming ethos."

Mr Montrose thanked parents, carers, governors and Isle of Wight Council for their support.