A school where playtime is "spoilt" and students aren't being prepared for "their future lives in modern Britain" has been rated inadequate by Ofsted.

The South Norwood Academy is Crowther Road was inspected by the schools watchdog in January and the findings didn't paint a pretty picture.

Of the five key points inspectors looked at, the school was found to be inadequate in all but one, with the other still requiring improvement.

Among the main concerns of the inspector was the fact the school ranked in the bottom ten per cent nationally when it came to "pupils’ progress in reading."

"Pupils leave year 6 without the skills, knowledge and understanding they need for secondary school," the inspector wrote in their report.

"Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is inadequate.

"They are not prepared well enough for their future lives in modern Britain."

However not all parents agreed with the decision.

Neelum Raja has a six-year-old daughter at the school and she doesn’t think the report reflects the work done there.

"I think Ofsted missed the real South Norwood Academy; the school that provides our children a safe happy and enjoyable learning environment," she said.

“They missed that my child comes home happy, positive, wanting to read and do homework. They missed seeing the children happily playing and learning, and parents speaking to the teachers who are always keen to listen and help."

A spokesman for the school said that work had already begun to "systematically, robustly and rapidly" address the issues identified by Ofsted.

"The outcome of the recent Ofsted inspection is hugely disappointing and upsetting for the staff, parents and our children," he said.

"The school’s priorities have been to focus on the core curriculum, to create an environment where our children are proud to be part of an energetic, vibrant community, where they feel safe and supported and where our school values underpin everything we do; the Ofsted report does not reflect this.

"The trust held a well-attended and constructive meeting with parents on March 5. The academy listened to and took on board the views of parents regarding the report as well as discussing the next steps.

"We continue to receive the full support and guidance of The Synaptic Trust and over the next few months Trust Directors will be working very closely with the school’s leadership team."