PUPILS and staff at a Blackburn primary school are delighted it is no longer in special measures.

St Aidan’s CE Primary School, in Norfolk Street, Mill Hill – which is now a satisfactory, or Grade Three, school – has worked hard to improve after it was deemed inadequate by education watchdogs Ofsted in September 2007.

A new headteacher, Julian Rogers, was appointed in Sept-ember 2008.

He has raised the standards and achievement in English, mathematics and science, and improved the teaching in a bid to eradicate under achieve-ment and raise standards.

Mr Rogers said: “We are all delighted that everyone’s hard work has been recognised in this very positive report.

“Particularly pleasing are the judgements of ‘good’ for our early years foundation stage (reception class) and the care, guidance and support given to pupils.”

The report said children were making satisfactory progress and this was a “very good improvement on just 12 months ago when a sizeable minority were regressing”.

Inspectors said: “St Aidan’s now offers its pupils a satis-factory quality of education.

“It benefits from good and strong leadership from the headteacher and provides good levels of care, guidance and support.

“The Early Years Found-ation Stage is also a strength of the school. Parents spoken to during this inspection, and during recent Her Majesties Inspectors visits, have spoken of their increased confidence in the school. ‘It is on the up!’ said one. Parents are right to be confident.

“The improvements made by the school since being made subject to special measures have been good.

“There are now no areas of inadequacy.”

Coun Chris Thayne, executive member for children’s services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “This is a great monitoring insp-ection result for St Aidan’s, and a great testament to the work and dedication of both the pupils and the staff.”