The headteacher of an "inadequate" school which was severely criticised for a sharp decline in standards is to retire.

Redbridge Council has said John Snow will formally step down from Snaresbrook Primary, in Meadow Walk, South Woodford, in August.

It comes after Ofsted placed the school in special measures earlier this month.

A check-up visit by the education watchdog last summer had judged Snaresbrook to be good, but inspectors said the quality of teaching and leadership had slipped since then.

An executive headteacher, Carel Buxton from Redbridge Primary School, has now been put in place by Redbridge Council to help run the school.

The Ofsted report rated the school inadequate in every category, including in the levels of achievement and progress made by pupils.

Inspectors said teaching was "weak", leadership was poor and that governors were failing to properly scrutinise the school.

The report said: "teaching does not provide well enough for the more-able pupils and teachers’ expectations are not high enough.

"Targets for pupils’ progress are set so low that even if they are successfully met, pupils’ progress would still be inadequate."

A spokesman for Redbridge Council said: "Following disappointing results in the KS2 SATs test in 2012 the school has made improvements that have resulted in outcomes for 2013 which are significantly higher than last year’s national average.

"The local authority, executive head teacher Carel Buxton, from Redbridge Primary school, and newly appointed chair of governors have worked together to produce a robust action plan to address issues, progress on which is already underway.

"John Snow will be retiring in August with normal pension arrangements."

The previous full Ofsted inspection of Snaresbrook in April 2009, and the first under Mr Snow, found it to be good.