A HEADTEACHER has been praised for providing ‘outstanding’ leadership after her school received a ratings boost.

St Stephen’s CE Primary School in Tockholes was upgraded by Ofsted, going from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’, following an inspection last month.

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In the report, lead inspector Judith Straw said that executive headteacher Alison Ashworth-Taylor was ‘transforming the school’ along with her leadership team.

Previously the school had been criticised for pupils ‘not making good progress’ and not bringing teaching standards ‘to where they should be’.

The school last hit the headlines in 2015 when former headteacher Dominic James resigned from his post after previously being suspended.

Mr James was cleared of any wrongdoing by Blackburn with Darwen Council before he left the school.

In her report, Ms Straw said: “The executive headteacher provides outstanding leadership to the school. She is ably supported by two assistant headteachers and together they are transforming the school.

“Senior leaders have put safeguarding at the heart of the school’s work.

“Teaching is good and teachers know their pupils well.

“Children in the early years make a positive start to their learning because they are taught well, like school and feel safe.

“Pupils are kind and respectful towards one another and behave well.

“Attendance is consistently above average.”

Ms Ashworth-Taylor is also head of Blackburn the Redeemer CE Primary School which St Stephen’s has formed a partnership with.

The report said that the school was not yet ‘outstanding’ because the progress that pupils make in writing was ‘not as strong as it is in reading and mathematics.’ It was also said that some pupils ‘give up too quickly’ when faced with ‘more difficult’ learning challenges and subject leadership was still at an ‘early stage of development’.

Mrs Ashworth-Taylor said: “I am delighted that the quality of education and care that the children at St Stephen’s now receive has been recognised through our recent Ofsted inspection.

“It is a joy to lead such a vibrant learning community.”

Local councillor Colin Rigby said: “Over the past 18 months the school has made tremendous progress.

“Everyone has worked hard.”

“The partnership with Blackburn the Redeemer has benefited St Stephen’s immensely and I’m very proud of all the staff and pupils.”