FOUR exceptional schools in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale have been given a clean bill of health by government education inspectors.

Under a new regime, schools watchdog Ofsted will not be visiting outstanding or very good schools as regularly as before, unless specific concerns are raised.

And teachers and governors at Haslingden High School, Holy Trinity Primary in Brierfield, St John’s RC in Burnley and Barrowford St Thomas have been told that they will not see a return visit by Ofsted in the near future.

Interim assessments have been carried out by education inspector Christine Gilbert, who has been impressed that all three schools have maintained the same performance levels since they were last reviewed three to four years ago.

In letters to the schools Mrs Gilbert said: “The 2011 Education Bill proposes that schools that were previously judged to be outstanding will be not be subject to routine inspection unless concerns are raised about their performance.”

She has looked at pupils' exam results, attendance and any other involvement Ofsted may have had, such as subject assessments, since the previous visits.

An inspection of Haslingden High in November 2007 gave the Broadway school the highest possible rating of 'outstanding'.

The Barrowford school was last inspected in February 2008 and also found to have reached the 'outstanding' mark.

Holy Trinity was ranked 'good' following a full review in December 2007 and St John’s likewise in January 2008.

The current criteria now being employed means that the Brierfield school should not be checked again for another five years.