A HYNDBURN primary school working against a backdrop of poverty and deprivation has been praised by a team of government inspectors in its latest Ofsted report.

Woodnook Primary, Hudson Street, Accrington, was found to be a school with many strengths and only one weakness after a team of six inspectors spent four days there in September.

The team, working on behalf of the Office for Standards in Education, said the school had made good progress since the last inspection in June 1996 and that all the key issues raised then had now been effectively addressed.

They also reported that the school management team had gone on to analyse that report carefully in a bid to address minor weaknesses as well.

Inspectors found standards achieved at the school, in the Barnfield ward of Accrington, had considerably improved and said the quality of teaching was much improved, with most now good and none unsatisfactory. They highlighted the leadership and management of the school as a particular strength, adding that the partnership between the head teacher, deputy governors and staff was very effective.

The report said: "All staff are committed to the school's aims and values and determined to help it improve.

"Pupils are well cared for and supported in both academic and personal terms and they respond with good behaviour and attitudes to learning."

The school, which caters for 280 children, aged four to 11-years-old, will now form an action plan based on one key issue raised in the report after inspectors found the role of the curriculum co-ordinator to be under-developed in checking the quality of teaching in English and maths.

Chairman of governors Coun Len Dickinson said: "It is very pleasing that the hard work and dedication of all connected with our school has been recognised by the inspectors.

"I have been chairman here since it opened in 1983 and I am very proud of all the school's achievements."

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