School taken out of special measures

The school in The Oval, Oxford, was deemed two years ago to be failing its pupils - but inspectors from Government education watchdog Ofsted have announced it has improved "beyond all recognition".

It has been transformed from a school where standards were low and achievement inadequate to a place where children love to learn, inspectors said.

Inspector Cathie Munt said: "Everyone involved should be proud of the progress made. The school has been turned around in a comparatively short time."

Chairman of the school governors Marya Griffiths, an ex-pupil, said it was no coincidence this had happened since the arrival of headteacher Sue Mortimer two years ago.

Mrs Griffiths said: "We are absolutely thrilled. It's the most wonderful way to end the school year.

"A huge amount of teamwork has gone on, but the person who really needs to be recognised in all of this is Sue Mortimer. She's a star."

Prior to her appointment, the school had not had a permanent headteacher and was struggling to hit targets.

Mrs Griffiths said: "Sue has been at the heart of it all. She's been inspirational. We are incredibly lucky to have her. We won't be resting on our laurels. We want to go forward from this."

The inspectors singled out the "outstanding leadership" of Mrs Mortimer as well as the "dogged determination", hard work and diligence of staff and governors.

Mrs Mortimer said: "It's been a team effort. We've all put our hearts and minds into what has needed to be done and we've achieved a great outcome. I'm thrilled to bits."

Inspectors noted that children at the school, where more than a third of the 316 pupils do not speak English as their first language and the majority have moderate learning difficulties, "could not stop singing its praises".

Although the report said painting done by staff, their families and volunteers in classrooms and corridors had helped breath light and life into the "dark, dismal and depressing" school building, some areas were in need of more than a facelift.

It is one of several city primary schools which could be substantially rebuilt as part of a £67m county package of improvements.

Two county schools are still in special measures: Dashwood Community Primary School, in Merton Street, Banbury, and Thameside Primary School, in Cotman Close, Abingdon.