Last updated at 16:34, Wednesday, 16 January 2013

PUPILS at a Furness school are reaping the benefits of their hard work with an improved Ofsted report.

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Following an inspection in December, Croftlands Junior School, which has 176 pupils aged seven to 11, has been awarded a “good” rating in all aspects – and told it narrowly missed out on being outstanding.

Headteacher Cathy Styles welcomed the report, saying it was a welcome boost that proves the Oakwood Drive school is heading in the right direction.

Miss Styles said some aspects of teaching is already at an outstanding level and it is now a matter of ensuring the other elements catch up.

She said: “We are describing it as a ‘resounding good’ – it is purely that the writing is not quite as good as reading and maths and we just need to close that gap.”

The latest report says the school is “rapidly improving” and praises its “friendly atmosphere”.

Miss Styles has been at the school for three years and has masterminded a number of changes that have seen its reputation improve. The report described how she has managed to remove “a significant budget deficit which was apparent at the time of the last inspection”.

In 2007, the school was issued with a notice to improve, but Miss Styles said those problems are now well behind them.

She added: “We are particularly pleased with the way the report talks about the pupils and their behaviour.”

The previous Ofsted report described the school as satisfactory and Miss Styles, who was described as “highly ambitious” by inspectors, welcomed the findings as proof that her changes at the school were having a positive effect.

She said: “Our aim has always been to improve the school for the children. It is about making the school as excellent as it can be.”

Miss Styles said she aims to make the school outstanding, something she believes is only a couple of years away.

First published at 16:29, Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk