King's Park Primary School in Melksham has reopened as an academy, seven months after it was strongly criticised by Ofsted.

The Lowbourne school has been taken over by United Learning, which manages more than 30 academies and independent schools across the country.

Acting headteacher Becky O’Brien said: “This move follows a thorough consultation with staff and parents who, together with the governors, strongly welcome our move to academy status.

“With the support of United Learning, we can put in place the measures needed to move the academy forward. We have already begun to work closely with them and we look forward to continuing to work together.”

The school was placed into special measures after an Ofsted inspection in October last year, when it was graded “inadequate”.

The school’s leadership and management, and the quality of its teaching, were criticised in the report, which claimed teachers’ expectations were far too low and activities in lessons did not extend pupils’ learning.

Rob Carpenter, director of primary provision for United Learning’s Southern region, said: “The school will retain its ethos, culture and everything that pupils, parents and staff value about it.

“Our priority will be to put in place the structures needed to ensure the school makes strong and sustained improvement.

“It joins a growing number of primary schools in our group and we look forward to working with Becky O’Brien, her colleagues, governors and pupils and their families.”