A PRIMARY school criticised by Ofsted inspectors two years ago has been praised for making great strides to improve standards.

In a new report, Ofsted inspectors said St Aidan's CE Primary School, Blackburn, no longer had serious weaknesses and had made very good progress.

The inspection team said: "This gives good reason to suggest that the future is bright for the school with a very good capacity to improve still further."

The report praised governors and the Parents' Association for providing outstanding support for the school, and head teacher Mrs Ruth Bessant for helping improve standards in literacy and numeracy.

Although most pupils start at the school at age four with below average skills in language, literacy and numeracy, when they leave at age 11 standards are above average compared to similar schools.

teaching is often good for pupils under seven, except in information technology, but teaching is only satisfactory for older children.

Inspectors said: "It is difficult for the school to build on the good progress that is occurring earlier in the school because there are a large number of temporary teachers in Key Stage Two.

"The majority of pupils behave well but there is a significant minority who are making life difficult for teachers and disrupting learning for others."

Mrs Bessant, who joined the school two years ago, said: "We are very proud of what we have achieved and are confident that we can continue to make St Aidan's a school which can offer our children an education worthy of the 21st century.

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