TWO primary schools are celebrating after being graded as ‘good’ by Ofsted.

St Stephen’s CE Primary School in Burnley and St John Southworth RC Primary School in Nelson have both been boosted from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’ by the education watchdog.

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Both schools were praised for the effectiveness of their leadership and management, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, early years provision and the personal development, behaviour and welfare of the pupils.

However, while St Stephen’s in Woodgrove Road was praised for its pupils’ outcomes, St John Southworth’s in Lomeshaye Road was told its outcomes requires improvement.

Sue Cornwell, headteacher at the Burnley school, said: “It’s all down to the hard work of the staff and children and the support from the parents.

“It’s a wonderful place to work and we are very pleased to have been given this rating.

“We have had a change of leadership here recently and this is my first 12 months as headteacher.

“We are not aiming to achieve an ‘outstanding’ grade in the future.”

In the school’s Ofsted report it was praised for having a ‘harmonious and nurturing environment in which pupils thrive, both personally and professionally’.

The education watchdog also said that the new headteacher has ‘galvanised’ senior leaders and governors to establish a ‘highly positive culture that has transformed the school’.

The headteacher and leaders at the Nelson school was praised by inspectors for being ‘relentless’ in their efforts to secure ‘strong rates of progress’ for pupils.

The report also said that parents and carers are ‘very positive’ about the school.

Lead inspector Mark Quinn said: “The headteacher and governors have a clear and realistic view of the school.

“They recognise that outcomes for pupils require improvement.”

Acting headteacher Jemma Stuttard, who took over the role on September 1, said: “We are extremely proud of our new overall grading which represents a rapid move forward.

“This is a result of the dedicated work of all of those involved within our school community.

“We are delighted with the very positive comments about the school.”