THERE was good news this week for Lew Trenchard Primary School following its latest report from Ofsted.

Following a monitoring inspection in January this year the inspector found that since the previous report, in November 2009, the Church of England school has made good progress and now has a better capacity for sustained improvement. As a result of the efforts to improve the quality of teaching, there has been a significant improvement in pupils' achievement.'

Ofsted inspector Grahame Sherfield concluded: 'In the national tests for Year 6 in 2010, pupils reached higher standards than in 2009 — particularly in mathematics where attainment was above average.'

The inspector noted that staff have visited four other schools to see good assessment practice in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Assessment is now much more of a team activity with the teacher and the teaching assistant recording children's learning through observations supported by notes and photographs.

The school has a new strategic plan for community cohesion which is carefully monitored. A link has been established with a culturally diverse school in Germany and another is planned with a school in the north of England. A recent visit from a member of the Hindu community in a nearby city has complemented these developments.

The local authority's support has been good. Considerable help was provided to raise standards in English and mathematics and the programme was so successful that local authority intervention was withdrawn sooner than planned.

Headteacher Tim Woodward, who has been at the school for 18 months, said he was pleased that the inspector was able to find clear evidence that the school had made good progress and he feels that the support of parents, staff and governors has been very important in revitalising the school.

'We have lovely children from within the local communities and they deserve the best education that we can give them,' he said. 'New resources and equipment have been purchased and our new central heating system and newly decorated building have ensured that we have a warm, bright and stimulating environment in which to teach.'

'There is a clear strategic plan to develop the school over the next three years and the chair of governors and the headteacher are determined to maintain the momentum of improvement.'