A RAWTENSTALL school has made 'many improvements' since it was previously inspected, an education inspector said.

St James-the-Less RC Primary School was judged 'good' by Ofsted after a short inspection.

In a letter to headteacher Gary Hall, inspector Tanya Hughes said: "The leadership team and governors have stabilised staffing, despite a staffing restructure, which was beyond their control.

"You and the acting deputy headteacher understand the school well and your evaluations are based on strong evidence.

"You use this information to produce school-improvement plans that will help to move the school forward.

"There have been many improvements since the previous inspection.

"The breadth of the curriculum is strong.

"Pupils have a wide range of opportunities, including music, art, physical education, sports and computing.

"However, you recognise that pupils’ knowledge about wider world cultures is limited and are working to address this.

"Subject leaders are knowledgeable and enthusiastic. They understand what makes effective teaching in their subjects."

She said the next steps for the Unity Way school should be to ensure outcomes for children at the end of reception year continue to improve and that middle-attaining pupils in key stage one make rapid progress in maths.