Staff at Eastburn Junior and Infant School are overjoyed at the findings in its recent Ofsted inspection.

The inspection on the 132-pupil school, carried out in November last year, showed that it had overcome all the weaknesses pointed out in the last inspection report in 1995.

Throughout the November inspection, the quality of teaching was found to be good, very good or excellent in more than three quarters of lessons, including provision made for pupils with special educational needs and those with English as an additional language.

But high achievers at Key Stage 2 were said to be under- challenged in science.

Other key issues for action included inconsistency in the marking of pupils' work and lack of sufficient information on children's achievements in information technology, and design and technology for parents.

Particularly strong - with an excellent rating - was the ethos of the school. Its pupils, aged four to 11, were said to be very keen and interested in their work and had very strong relationships.

General behaviour, leadership and management, value for money, and support for youngsters with special educational needs were given a very good ranking as well as the spiritual, moral and social development of the children.

In the area of teaching, English for the under five age group was found to be very good as was religious education for seven-to-11-year-olds.

Eastburn head Elizabeth Pratt says: "I think this report reflects the tremendous amount of teamwork within the school. We are very, very pleased and everyone has played a part in making this come about.

"It shows that we have successfully refined and developed our practice in order to respond to the vast number of new innovations we have been required to address over the last four years.

"We are confident that the three key issues recommended for action can easily be developed in the near future."

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