The Ofsted letter that warned pupils aged four they were heading for failure

Youngsters at the 265-pupil New Manton primary school were informed they risked failing in adult life following an inspection earlier this year.

Written in simple English, Ofsted's letter in February warned the pupils they were 'not well prepared' for their 'future adult lives'.

Letter warned pupils they were spending 'too much time listening to the teacher instead of practising the skills you are learning'

It added: 'Some of the teaching you receive is too slow and you spend too much time listening to the teacher instead of practising the skills you are learning.'

Head Bill Ball was forced from his job at the school in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, following the report. But Mr Ball said he had been vindicated by SATs results out this month, which showed a near-doubling in scores from last year.

Passes in science leapt from 29 per cent to 57 per cent. In maths, 57 per cent reached the expected level (up from 33), and English passes went up from 31 to 50 per cent.

Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, called the letters 'ridiculous, unnecessary and ill-conceived'.

She said: 'To cater for their target audience, these letters often over-simplify the outcomes of inspection and in so doing misrepresent the findings.'

But an Ofsted spokesman said 86 per cent of head teachers surveyed believe the letters were a useful way of telling pupils about its findings.

She said test results were only part of the reason for the school's critical report, and that classroom observation was also taken into account.

Ofsted has included the letters to pupils in its inspection reports since 2005.