A CLOSURE-threatened school has now been judged successful enough to run itself.

St John’s CE Primary School, in Johnson Street, Radcliffe, underwent a positive inspection by Ofsted.

Bury Council will now allow the school to manage itself following the inspection.

Its federation with Chapelfield Primary School ends this summer and extra support will be given to ensure St John’s continues to improve.

An interim headteacher will be appointed for the autumn term, with a permanent headteacher in place from January.

It marks a turnaround for the school, which faced closure due to poor standards and falling numbers of pupils.

Malcolm Gate, headteacher of Chapelfield and St John’s, said: “I am confident the school can stand on its own.

“I hope both schools will continue to work closely together because they have a lot to offer each other.”

St John’s was placed bottom of the borough’s school league table, with just 25 per cent of pupils achieving the required level four or above in maths and English in 2010 — below the Government target of 55 per cent.

Ofsted described St John’s as a “satisfactory, improving school” after its visit last month.

It was judged to be “satisfactory” overall, with the quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils, and leadership and management all found to be “good” and rapidly improving.