A TEAM of government inspectors have given a church-aided East Lancashire primary school a mixed report.

A team of five inspectors working on behalf of the Office for Standards in Education spent four days observing life and lessons at St Peter and St Paul's CE Primary, Arundel Street, Rishton, in October.

Among the strengths of the school, the team praised enthusiastic headteacher Gavin Murray and the staff for promoting good relationships in what they describe as an improving, caring and friendly school.

They found the board of governors provided effective support and that the school had a wide range of procedures for assessing pupils' achievements as well making good provision for their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

The standard of teaching was found to be at least satisfactory in all subjects except information technology where pupils were under achieving at both key stage one and two. Inspectors found more than a quarter of all teaching was good and a small percentage, about four per cent, very good. Children's behaviour around the school was also said to be good and the curriculum broad, balanced and relevant for all ages, with sound promotion of literacy, numeracy and extra-curricular activities.

But the report also highlighted some weaknesses that must be addressed by the school.

They found procedures for managing and monitoring teaching and learning were not carried out with sufficient precision and that high-achieving pupils were not always given enough work at an appropriate level.

Formal assessment procedures were not always used to plan future work effectively and learning was restricted by a lack of information technology resources, poor library accommodation and unsatisfactory library and classroom book stocks at key stage two.

Mr Murray said: "It has taken a real team effort to achieve this success and we are excited at the prospect of moving the school further forward, enhancing still the quality of education we provide.

"All the hard working members of our school community thoroughly deserve this successful report."

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