From David Hutchings, Exeter 382594, December 17, 2007

THE NEW leaders of an East Devon primary school today spoke of their vision to make it the best in the county.

The new chairman of governors at Colyton Primary School, Vikki Bayliss, said:"We want this to be a school at the heart of its community.

"We want every child to feel happy and safe in a caring environment which delivers a high quality education where every child achieves their full potential."

Graham Rowland, who is leading the school, said: "I have been very impressed by the willingness and enthusiasm of everyone involved with the school - staff, children, governors and parents - to do what is necessary to ensure this is the best school in the county."

Mr Rowland, who is head of high performing Feniton Primary, has been leading Colyton since headteacher Gaye Williams left.

The leadership changes follow a report by the school standards agency, Ofsted, which said that Colyton needed special measures in order to deliver an acceptable standard of education for its pupils.

Lead inspector Alex Baxter said the 151 pupils at Colyton attended well and enjoyed being at school and their care, guidance and support were satisfactory.

But the school was failing to provide an acceptable standard of education and the former leaders and managers of the school were not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement.

Since he has taken over the school, Mr Rowland has monitored the teaching and learning in every class and introduced a series of improvement measures.

Subject leaders in English, maths and science have been given time to observe classes and advise colleagues on how to improve their teaching and provide more consistency and challenge.

Subject advisers from the local authority are also being brought in and staff will be able to visit other schools to observe best teaching practice.

"This will enable them to establish clear expectations of what can be done for each year group and create new learning opportunities for every child," said Mr Rowland.

An experienced new full-time teacher has already been recruited for the Foundation Stage and will start in January.

Mr Rowland said he had been canvassing the children's views of how to improve school life and many of their suggestions were already being acted on.

"I was inundated with a lot of really good answers when I asked how we could make this the best school in the county," he said.

"The children are full of ideas, articulate, exceedingly polite and they have been a joy to work with.

"The teachers have not been waiting for the publication of the report to address the issues and there has been no lack of willingness on the part of all the staff to get on with improving the school.

"Parents are keen to come in and help out. Some have been asking how to become governors and the community generally are very supportive and they want to help and make it better."

Devon's Director of Children and Young People's Services, Anne Whiteley, said she was always disappointed on the very rare occasions that one of the county's schools received a critical Ofsted report.

"Devon has a good track record in helping the small minority of schools that fall into this situation get out of special measures quickly," she said.

"I would assure parents that everything is being done to support the school and, working together, we will ensure the necessary improvements are completed as soon as possible."

ends