Wolverhampton's Hill Avenue Primary School making improvements
A Wolverhampton primary school that was plunged into special measures following a disastrous inspection is taking 'effective action' to improve, Ofsted has said.
Hill Avenue Primary School in Lanesfield was given Ofsted's lowest rating of 'inadequate' in February.
In the months after the rating a new governing body was put in place, while a new headteacher was appointed in a bid to drive through improvements.
On November 4 and 5 inspectors returned to the 322-pupil school and noted a raft of improvements.
Outcomes for pupils were said to have 'improved throughout the school' with children making 'sustained progress' in a range of subjects.
The new report said the quality of teaching, learning and assessment had also improved, while pupils were found to be keen to learn, take pride in their work, enjoy positive relationships and extremely well behaved.
Attendance has improved and is now above the national average, the report said.
Leadership and management were said to have 'improved considerably' over the last six months, while staff had benefitted from teaching programmes that had helped improve the quality of teaching throughout the school.
The interim executive board was found to be holding senior leaders to account, with inspectors concluding that: "The school is taking effective action towards the removal of special measures."
Executive headteacher Anita Cliff, who also leads the 'outstanding' rated Manor Primary in Bilston, said she was pleased with the outcome of the monitoring inspection.
"I would like to thank everyone at Hill Avenue for their efforts," she added. Mrs Cliff reserved particular praise for head of school Elliott Hateley, whose positive contribution was helping to 'rapidly move the school forward'.
Wolverhampton council's education chief Councillor Claire Darke, said: "I am pleased that inspectors have noted the good progress being made to bring Hill Avenue Primary School, and I would like to congratulate Anita Cliff and her team, as well as pupils and parents, on their efforts.
"This is a very encouraging monitoring inspection and while there is clearly still more to be done, I am confident the school is on track to come out of special measures in due course."
Primary school league tables published on December 10 placed the school towards the bottom of the pile in terms of pupil achievement at Key Stage 4.
A total of 55 per cent of pupils at Hill Avenue achieved the benchmark of level 4 or better in the key subjects of reading, writing and maths.
