A BRADFORD primary school which has struggled with under-performance in the past is marking five years of maintaining a good rating from Ofsted inspectors.

St Francis Catholic Primary School, in Bolton, received the latest results following a short inspection last month, five years on from it first being rated as good in 2013.

Ofsted inspector Marian Thomas states in her letter to the school that executive head teacher Daniel Copley and head of school Andrea Haines have a “a very clear vision of how to continue to move the school forward”.

The school’s positive approach was also praised by the inspector with staff having “embraced recent changes enthusiastically”, thereby demonstrating “teachers’ desire for continual improvement”.

The letter continues by saying that the whole-school focus on writing had gathered momentum since it started in September 2017, adding: “It is clear to see in pupils’ books that many are beginning to make strong progress in developing writing skills.”

The focus on reading also won praise from the inspection team: “Pupils told me how much they enjoyed reading, and particularly borrowing books from the school library. The inclusion of your giant, purple, one-eyed reading monster in the library has delighted and fascinated pupils in equal measure.”

The inspector found that pupils’ behaviour during the inspection was very good. In her letter, Ms Thomas said: “This was evidenced by the quiet corridors and polite attitudes shown to visitors and staff alike. Pupils also demonstrated good behaviour in classrooms, and this contributed to their good progress overall.”

Safeguarding was also commended as nearly all pupils spoken to felt safe and happy, something parents and carers also agreed with.

Executive head teacher Mr Copley said: “We welcome this positive news as this confirms our own judgements and self-evaluation in school.

“St Francis Catholic Primary School has now been judged ‘good’ by Ofsted for five years.

“Historically, the school has struggled with under performance. The school has now achieved two consecutive ‘good’ judgements for the first time since Ofsted began in 1992.

“We know we are going in the right direction with all the things we are doing in school to help the children in their education. We are ambitious for all the children in our school.

“We need to keep working with our families to ensure that the children get the best at home and at school.”

Michael Jameson, Bradford Council’s strategic director for children’s services said: “This is a very positive report which shows that St Francis Catholic Primary School is providing a good education for its pupils and focussed on continuing to improve further.

“What comes across in the report is that children are responding well to the way they are taught. It is great to see that pupils told inspectors how much they enjoyed reading and using the school library and how much they enjoy coming into school.

“We want all children in Bradford to have access to a good education that allows them to become lifelong learners and fulfil their potential. I congratulate the school’s Headteacher, staff and pupils on this great report.”

The school was in special measures in both 2002 and 2009.