SCHOOL bosses have been praised for improved standards at a primary school.

Ofsted inspectors who visited St Aidan’s Primary School in Mill Hill judged it to be good.

When the school was last inspected in 2017, government assessors deemed it to require improvement.

Inspector Allan Torr said: “Leaders have transformed this school. In the past, many pupils have underachieved.

“They moved on to Year 7 without the knowledge and the skills that they needed to succeed. This situation has changed.

“Pupils now achieve well across the full range of national curriculum subjects. Their work in history, science, mathematics, reading and writing shows how much the quality of education has improved.

“Their work on the Stone Age is particularly impressive. Pupils enjoy their physical education lessons.

“They talked about following the daily mile in the footsteps around the school yard.

“Teachers and sports coaches promote healthy eating and exercise well. Staff have high expectations for all pupils.

“Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) learn the same subjects as all other pupils. They achieve well. In 2019, many more disadvantaged pupils attained higher standards in reading, writing and mathematics than other pupils at the end of Year 6.”

Despite praise, Mr Torr said pupils' achievement was hindered by attendance, with most of the pupils with below average attendance failing to meet the expected standard at the end of Year 2 and

Year 6.

And criticism was also reserved for pupils' spelling, though it was found the structure and quality of pupils’ writing have improved.

Mr Torr added: "Leaders, including trustees, have turned the school around. This is partly because of the undoubted skills of senior leaders and subject leaders.

"They have made good use of specialists from other schools and from within the trust to re-shape and improve the curriculum.

"The curriculum is now well designed and well structured. Teachers use the new curriculum to build pupils’ knowledge and skills over time in each subject.

"Teachers develop pupils’ character. They show pupils that they can learn from any mistakes that they make. They build pupils’ resilience.

"Pupils behave well. They have positive attitudes and work hard in lessons. Teachers can get on with their teaching with little interruption.

"Pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain. They learn to respect the many differences between people.

"Teachers help pupils to develop a good sense of fairness and justice."