SCHOOL watchdogs have criticised a small Burnley school as having 'unsatisfactory standards' but praised its new headteacher who says it is making rapid progress.

Inspectors assessed Wood Top CE Infant School last November when head Mrs Diane Roberts had been in the post for only10 weeks.

They said: "Throughout the school, standards in writing, speaking and listening skills are unsatisfactory.

"In reception, the standards of achievement are sound in most subjects inspected except for English.

"The school should seek to raise the standards of achievements in all subjects as a priority."

Inspectors said promotion of spiritual, moral, social and cultural education was sound.

Teachers were generally encouraging and supportive; parents had good relationships with staff and pupils could recognise right from wrong.

They added: "The headteacher has made a significant impact on the management and administration of the school.

"She has a plan which acknowledges the necessity for developing policies for the core subjects."

They concluded the school did not, at the time of the report, provide good value for money.

Mrs Roberts said: "The school is going through a major change and that has been reflected throughout the Ofsted report.

"We are in a new era. The school is making rapid progress.

"In the short time I had before the inspectors came, I had started to evaluate what I saw and had already started to identify what needed to be done and introduce a development plan."

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