The education watchdog sent the notices to over 280 pupils after an inspection of the school earlier this year.

The letters, which are written in language easily understood by children, warned the pupils: 'You are not reaching the levels you should in English, mathematics and science and this means you are not well prepared for your next stage of education, nor your future adult lives.'

Children are also accused of being 'unsure about your targets and how to meet them'.

And Ofsted ended the letter by warning pupils that they would return to assess their progress. The letter read: "Inspectors will be coming back to check that your school is improving. I would like you all to work hard and help your teachers make New Manton a better school."

The primary school - for pupils aged four to 11 - was placed in 'special measures' following an Ofsted inspection in February.

Ofsted claim the letters are commonly used to improve standards in schools throughout the country and said that many headteachers found them to be useful.

But Chris Keates, general secretary of teaching union NASUWT, said such measures should be scrapped.

"These letters often over-simplify the outcomes of inspections and in doing so misrepresent the findings," he said. "The letters in effect give licence to pupils to question the professionalism of the school and its staff."

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