THE new head of Sutton Community Primary School has made an "energetic and determined" start in addressing long standing weaknesses, Ofsted inspectors concluded.

The praise came after officers re-visited the school earlier this month after an appeal against an inspection report written last year was upheld.

Ofsted admitted the report, which criticised the leadership and management of the school, was "seriously flawed" and apologised.

In the new report, inspectors noted headteacher Fiona Beetles, who was seconded to the Bridge Road school in September 2005 and officially took over as head in January, had "good quality" leadership.

The school was described as "improving" and achievement and standards were satisfactory. Pupils' personal development was good and teaching and learning were satisfactory overall. The curriculum was satisfactory and pupils were well cared for.

Inspectors added: "There is an air of optimism in the school and throughout the inspection there was spontaneous expressions of support from staff, parents, governors and local authority personnel for the headteacher's willingness and skill in delegating and striving for cohesion and consistency within the team."

To improve, the school needs to:

o Raise the quality of teaching by improving the accuracy of assessment and matching work to pupils' learning needs, especially for the more able.

o Improve the learning attitudes of a minority of pupils throughout Key Stage 1.

In a letter to parents, Mrs Beetles wrote: "I would like to assure you of my continued commitment and that of the governing body and whole school staff team to ensure our school continues to develop into a school we can all be proud of."

Former chairman of governors Ken Hart, who resigned after 20 years, welcomed the new report and felt he and former headteacher Phil Sant had been vindicated.

He said: "I'm very glad that I insisted on North Yorkshire County Council appealing against the previous Ofsted report.

"Because of that report, senior advisors at North Yorkshire made it impossible for me to carry on as a governor. The headteacher and I were made a scapegoat for what was an irregular report - we have been vindicated."

Mr Sant was not around at the first inspection and resigned on ill health grounds before the report was published.