A ST NEOTS school is celebrating its inspection results, after being praised by an education watchdog.

Priory Junior School was said to be “poised to make rapid improvements” in an Ofsted report released at the beginning of February.

The school’s headteacher, Tracy Gould, said the results were a tribute to the hardworking staff and supportive parents.

She told The Hunts Post: “We’ve worked hard on developing a focussed approach to tracking children as they go through the school.

“We’re working towards making sure there is a consistent approach to all lessons. The team are all very hard-working, and have a shared vision of where we want the school to be.

“I want to say thank you and well done to all of them.”

Reporting inspector for Ofsted, Clive Kempton praised the school in his report: “After a period of staff turbulence, there is more stability now and a willingness to be part of the drive to raise standards.

“The headteacher with sheer hard work, determination and high expectations, has focused and re-energised the staff on the core business of identifying weaker areas of performance and making a difference.”

The school received a grade 3, which is deemed to mean satisfactory, and came out particularly well in the working relationships between staff and pupils.

Children were praised for their good behaviour in an around school whilst Year 6 pupils were congratulated for their SAT results.

Areas on which the school could improve included adopting a more consistent approach to marking, and continuing to provide creative and challenging lessons.

INFORMATION: The school has 290 children, aged between seven and 11, on its roll.