Progress at school praised

Lyndhurst Primary School is celebrating coming out of 'special measures'. Left to right, Ruby Imran, Melvin Gonga, Melissa Sweeney, Nigel Fowler (head teacher), Lizzie Egan (deputy head teacher), Zoya Mehnaz, Nebias Radebe, Charlie Towers.

A "TRANSFORMED" Hollins primary school is celebrating coming out of special measures in less than 18 months.

But Ofsted inspectors say that Lyndhurst Primary still needs to improve further before it is classed as good.

The Heron Street school was told it was failing to give pupils an acceptable standard of education and was rated as inadequate, the lowest of four possible grades, in March 2015

But after its latest inspection in July, Ofsted inspectors have increased the school's performance to "requires improvement" (grade three).

It no longer requires special measures and the education watchdog says in its report: "Lyndhurst is an improving school. Senior leaders and governors have an accurate view of its strengths and weaknesses and good capacity to improve teaching, pupils' progress and pupils personal development and behaviour."

Ofsted also praises head teacher Nigel Fowler, adding: "Since his arrival 10 months ago, the head teacher has provided effective leadership and transformed the school. Pupils and parents all point to his arrival as being the point at which the school began to improve quickly."

The watchdog adds: "He has led improvements in teaching, in pupils' progress and in the school's ability to improve itself."

Other areas highlighted include the above-average reading skills of year one pupils, improved teaching for pupils who have special educational needs and disabilities, the governing body and a significant reduction in bullying and name-calling.

Pupils make at least expected progress from their starting points, although their attainment at the end of years two and six is below average.

Ofsted says that more has to be done to improvement the attainment of boys, disadvantaged pupils and the brightest children.

Lyndhurst is due to become an academy on October 1. It will join the Focus Trust which runs 10 primary schools in Greater Manchester, Cheshire and West Yorkshire, including Coppice and Roundthorn in Oldham.

Mr Fowler said: "We are delighted with the outcome of the inspection which is recognition of all the hard work which has been put in by the staff, governors and children.

"We have high aspirations for our children and are well aware there is still much to do."