A PRIMARY school battling back from a damning inspection is under new control today.

Caldew Lea School in Carlisle was rated as inadequate by Ofsted inspectors last year.

Now, after months of planning, the school has transferred to the control of Cumbria Education Trust (CET) - a move that supporters are sure will lead to a brighter future.

Action for improvement has been swift, with experienced headteacher Ayesha Weston taking charge at the start of the new school year in preparation for the move – while the trust has also worked on physical improvements to classrooms.

The 250-pupil school becomes the eighth, alongside four other primary schools, to join the expanding trust, the biggest of its kind in Cumbria.

Miss Weston, formerly headteacher at Crosby-on-Eden CE Primary, said she was delighted with how both children and the community had responded to the changes.

She said: “In spite of everything that has happened in the past, the children are absolutely fantastic. They are polite, open and warm and they soak up everything you give them.

“If you give children in a school like this the belief that they can go and change the world then they show you they are just as bright and articulate as any other children.

“They want to learn, behave and do the very best they can and that is all we can ask of them.”

Last June, the school was rated inadequate in two out of the five key inspection areas - effectiveness of leadership and management, and personal development, behaviour and welfare of pupils.

Executives at CET believe their greater scale and resources can drive up standards in schools, with both Yewdale in Carlisle and Longtown - each part of the trust - moving from ‘inadequate’ to ‘good’ in their most recent inspections.

Chris Wilkins, CET’s new director of primary education, said Caldew Lea would benefit from the support and collaboration of being part of a growing trust, with the organisation now responsible for the education of almost 4,000 students across three secondary and five primary schools.

He said: “We are a family of schools working together to raise standards and already we are seeing the benefits with best practice being shared across the schools under our wing.”

The Ashley Street school has been redecorated and substantial improvements to the buildings have been made in preparation for the transfer, with funds provided jointly by CET, Cumbria County Council and central government. Further work will be carried out in the October half-term and there are plans to improve the school’s ICT capability.

Miss Weston added: “It is early days but our ambition is for Caldew Lea to be the school of choice for the area. We are heartened that some parents have already chosen to come back to us and we are determined to reward the faith shown in the team here.”