THE headteacher of Oxford’s first free school has praised staff and parents after it was given a “good” rating following its first inspection.

Tyndale Community School in William Morris Close, Temple Cowley, opened its doors in September 2013 and an Ofsted inspector visited for the first time on June 23 and June 24 this year.

In inspector Elizabeth Farr’s report, released on July 17, she praised staff at the 102-pupil school and ranked it “good” in all categories.

The school has been based in the former Lord Nuffield Club since it opened.

But builders have been working to transform the building to the school’s specifications and the regenerated site was opened earlier this month by the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Tim Stevenson.

Headteacher Liz Russo said: “We are very pleased. It was a huge amount of work.

“The teachers have been incredibly hard-working and our support staff have made it possible to get such a strong Ofsted report so quickly.

“We had the most incredible support from our families and parents and that is quite unique. It exceeded what we wanted. We have had so much support from families.”

The free school system was introduced by the Government in 2010 and allows parents, teachers, charities and businesses to set up their own schools, which do not have to follow the national curriculum.

Tyndale Community School was set up by the Chapel Street Community Schools Trust and Oxford Community Trust.

Inspector Ms Farr praised its Christian ethos, saying its values for grace, love and fellowship underpinned its high expectations for every pupil.

Ms Russo said: “I think what was most encouraging was that our Christian ethos was recognised as being very real and inclusive.

“A lot of our families are Muslim and have been very involved in building that sense of community.

“We have chosen to focus on the ethos rather than on doctrine or religion.”

Ms Russo said pupils and staff were excited about moving into the redeveloped building in September, when two Reception classes will start to add to two Year 1 and two Year 2 classes already at the school.

Ms Farr said: “The principal, governors and members of Chapel Street Community Trust are ambitious and dedicated to establishing a highly-effective school at the heart of its local community.

“Careful links are forged across subjects such as literacy and geography that deepen pupils’ understanding of the world around them.

“The school fosters good relationships between all of its pupils, and between pupils and staff. “ But she said the school was not yet outstanding because teachers’ verbal feedback and questioning did not explore pupils’ reasoning or understanding in sufficient depth.