A BURNLEY junior school, branded as failing by Ofsted inspectors, has bounced back with a glowing report.

A new inspection found Barden Junior School was no longer in need of special measures to improve its performance because it now provided an acceptable standard of education.

And that has left head teacher Simon Smalley and his team celebrating the success of the hard work which has turned the school around in record time.

Staff, governors and pupils met the earlier criticism head on, implementing an action plan to bring about major improvements.

The result was the special measures cloud has been lifted after just 15 months.

Said Mr Smalley "That, we have been told is a record, and reflects the really hard work put in by everybody. We are very pleased."

An inspection in November 1999 was critical of many aspects of the work of the school and Barden was placed in special measures and an action plan ordered to improve performance.

The new inspection found pupils' attainment in National Curriculum tests for 2000 was still below national expectations in English, mathematics.

But it said in lessons, standards were sound in mathematics and science and pupils had made good progress in all subjects.

The school had offered greater support for pupils who had English as an additional language and had quickly raised standards in information and communication technology, said Ofsted.

To further improve Barden Junior, the inspectors call on staff to continue to improve standards in all subjects and improve the quality of teaching by broadening the range of teaching methods.