Pressures to build a new school at Castle Community College have impeded the school’s chances of getting out of special measures.

That’s the findings of the latest report by Her Majesty’s inspector Simon Hughes who visited in May.

Construction of the new school at the Mill Road site is now delayed because the planned sponsorship by Schools Company Trust has not happened.

Building won’t start until some time in the 2015-16 school year because the disruption will affect progress.

The report said: “The academy’s rate of progress out of special measures has been slowed. This is partly due to uncertainty about the sponsorship of the academy moving forward.

"Many teachers are ambitious, keen to improve and have attended additional training or given up personal time to make up for shortcomings in teaching from before -"her Majesty's Inspectiors

“Senior leaders are too frequently distracted from working to improve teaching and learning. For example, recently leaders have had to prepare extensive documents for external agencies about the academy’s finances, building plans and the employment terms and conditions of many of the staff.”

In some cases progress is unsustained, like in teaching.

“Information provided suggests that about half of the teaching is less than good and some of it remains inadequate,” he said.

Many teachers are ambitious, keen to improve and have attended additional training or given up personal time to make up for shortcomings in teaching from before.

Achievement of some pupils in maths has slowed but in many other areas it is rising. The school estimates that 40.2% of Year 11 will achieve five good GCSEs with English and mathematics – an improvement on last year.

Behaviour remains good, with some reports of continued disruption at the Mill Hill site.

Attendance rates have slipped but the report said: “Students and parents agree that the pastoral care is highly effective. Students are cared for well and know exactly who to go to when they face problems. Bullying is dealt with robustly, even when it occurs online, outside school hours.”