A Rawdon primary school - formerly criticised for having serious weaknesses - has been given a glowing report from Government inspectors.

It turned out to be a double boost, for the inspectors visited in the same week that Rawdon Littlemoor learned it had got outline approval from the Department for Education for a new £2.1 million school building.

Government inspectors at their last visit in 1998 highlighted serious weaknesses, but now say the Harrogate Road school has experienced dramatic changes with some excellent teaching.

Head teacher Garry White said it had been a fantastic week with the report showing how well everyone had responded to the last inspection.

"We have created a fantastic team of teaching and support staff, committed to raising the standards of all we do.

"This excellent report is a testimony to all their hard work and achievements and with the news of a new school building coming during the Ofsted week, it was quite a week."

Mr White said the Ofsted inspectors, who visited the school in March, had just left when a telephone call came from the city council to say that the money for the new building had been given outline approval by the Department for Education.

"It'll be another two or three years before it's built, but it's wonderful news.

"The Ofsted inspectors were really pleased with what we're doing here and the building doesn't stop us from doing anything, but it does make things more difficult," he said.

Ofsted inspectors said there had been many well thought out beneficial changes since the last inspection.

The percentage of good lessons had risen from just four per cent to 45 per cent and teaching was never less than satisfactory with some of it being excellent.

Teachers were found to have personal enthusiasm and suitably high expectations who encouraged pupils to learn well and develop their skills across a wide range of subjects.

The school, which has 262 pupils, also offered good provision for the under fives, good extra-curricular activities, above average attainment in English and science and very good provision for special needs children.

l The school, which was built more than 120 years ago, is one of 12 schools in Leeds which forms a Private Finance Initiative bid.

The main building is Victorian with a number of temporary classrooms added on.

Also part of the bid is a £2.1 million amalgamation of Yeadon South View Junior and Infant schools.