A NEW head teacher has been appointed at a Bacup school which has been praised following its recent Ofsted inspection.

St Mary’s RC Primary School in Tong Lane was visited by the education watchdog after being rated as ‘requiring improvement’ last year.

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Lead inspector Mark Williams said the senior leaders and governors are taking ‘effective action’ to tackle areas requiring improvement highlighted in the March 2014 inspection.

The visit came after the school governors appointed Kathryn Bishop-Horsfield to take over the running of the school in September.

In a letter to associate head teacher Sarah Watson, Mr Williams said: “Along with your leaders, governors and the local authority, you have built successfully on improvements established by your predecessors.

“Your sustained presence and work in the school has had a most positive stabilising effect.

“Greater levels of consistency are now evident, meaning staff and pupils understand the expectations of them.

“Staff expect more of pupils in terms of work and effort.

“Pupils are clear about the way they should behave.

“You have also established with leaders clear processes to record improvements in the quality of teaching.

“The impact of this work is seen in the calm, orderly environment in which pupils work and in the progress pupils are making.

“Following disappointing results in 2014, all pupils in year six are on course to make progress in reading and writing in line with national expectations.”

Miss Watson said: “The comments from the inspector were very encouraging indeed.

“It’s gratifying to know they think we made good progress and our actions are effective.

“There are plans in hand to continue the improvements we have started.

“We know exactly where we still need to make improvements and everyone is working together to achieve that.

“The appointment of Kathryn Bishop-Horsfield as our new permanent head teacher from September will put us in an even stronger position.

“ I’d like to thank our governors, staff, pupils and parents and carers for their continuing support.”