AN OXFORD school has hauled itself out of special measures to become the most improved primary in England.

In 2008, Rose Hill Primary School had been failed by standards watchdog Ofsted, and fewer than a fifth of 11-year-olds reached the expected level in both English and maths in their Key Stage Two tests.

But in 2010, more than three quarters of Year Six pupils achieved Level Four in both English and maths – a 58 per cent increase over two years.

The scale of improvement since 2008 is unmatched anywhere in England.

Rose Hill was also rated “good” by Ofsted in July, with inspectors praising the “vision, determination and drive” of headteacher Sue Mortimer.

Mrs Mortimer, who took charge at the school in September 2006, said she was “thrilled to bits” with the results.

She said: “We were in Special Measures in 2007, and since then we have worked really hard to improve the quality of teaching and learning. Staff and parents have worked closely together, and it has been a real team effort.

“The cohorts vary from year to year and we have high expectations of this year’s cohort.”

And the chairman of the governors Ali Akkas said the school had received a lot of support from Oxfordshire County Council to help it improve pupils’ performance.

He said: “We are very proud of the results. As governors, we are now aiming for Rose Hill Primary to be the best school in the city. We are confident we can achieve it.”

League tables published today show 30 out of the 39 11-year-olds who sat the exams in May achieved Level Four or above in English, and 37 of them achieved the same level in maths.

The results also give Rose Hill Oxford’s highest Contextual Value Added score, which measures how much progress pupils make given their background.

Seven primary schools in Oxford and 45 across the county boycotted last year’s Key Stage Two tests, saying they undermined children’s education and league tables did not reflect schools’ achievements.

But of the schools that did take part, six in the city and eight others in Oxfordshire fell below the Government’s proposed new minimum standards announced in the Government’s Schools White Paper published three weeks ago.

Under Education Secretary Michael Gove’s proposals, any schools where less than 60 per cent of 11-year-olds reach Level Four in English and maths in the 2011 tests would be subject to special intervention. The worst performing would become academies.

In Oxford, just 43 per cent of pupils taking the tests at Windale Community Primary, in Blackbird Leys, and 44 per cent at St John Fisher Catholic Primary, in Littlemore, reached Level Four in English and maths.

The headteachers of both schools were not available for comment when contacted by the Oxford Mail.