From David Hutchings, Exeter 382594, July 20, 2007

AN EXETER junior school is becoming a big success story just a year after education inspectors ordered it to make significant improvements.

Ofsted inspectors say Ladysmith Junior School is providing a satisfactory education and improving rapidly just 14 months after they criticised pupils' achievements and the quality of teaching.

They say academic standards and the quality of education have been driven up in an impressive manner.

"It is increasingly becoming a success story," they conclude.

"Teaching is now good and pupils are no longer underachieving.

"Parents have a high regard for the work of the school."

Ladysmith Junior was told to make significant improvements by inspectors from the school standards agency in May 2006.

But three inspectors spent two days at Ladysmith earlier this month and have now given every area of school life a clean bill of health.

They say leadership and management, teaching and learning, care, guidance and support and personal development and well-being are all good while overall effectiveness, achievement and standards and the curriculum are satisfactory.

And they quote what pupils told them as examples of how the Devon County Council school has been transformed.

One said: "Ladysmith Junior School rocks."

Another said: "We have lots of fun here."

And a third commented: "They've made lots of really good improvements this year."

The inspectors conclude: "Comments such as these left inspectors in no doubt about what pupils feel about their school."

They praise Jackie Jackson, who took over as head at Ladysmith in September 2005.

"Under the excellent leadership of the head, the staff have worked very hard and effectively across the year to bring about the changes and improvements required," says lead inspector Laurie Lewin.

"The morale amongst the staff is good and there is a palpable enthusiasm and strong commitment to keep things improving.

"The senior management team and deputy head provide strong support for the head, and governors carry out their roles well."

Mr Lewin says to keep improving the school needs to provide clearer targets for pupils in maths, improve marking in maths and science and develop strong links between different subjects.

A delighted Mrs Jackson said: "I am so proud of everyone who works at Ladysmith Junior for the way they have all helped turn the school around. I feel so privileged to be head here.

"It is not only the teachers who have been brilliant but all the teaching assistants, support staff, mealtime assistants, and our caretaker. They all grasped the nettle and moved the school forward such a long way in such a short time.

"The children here are amazing. They're always enthusiastic and always ready to try those next steps. And we have had wonderful support from parents, families and the wider community.

"I am particularly pleased that Ofsted recognised that the things the school has always done well have been maintained through the year - the enrichment work, the good behaviour and the pastoral care all remained solid and that we have built on our family ethos despite being such a large school.

"We concentrated on improving our core academic performance and we will keep that up but I want to widen the curriculum to develop cross curricular skills, include many more hands-on activities and bring lessons alive with more visits and visitors to really make Ladysmith an exciting centre of learning and discovery for all our children.

"It has been a challenging year but we're not sitting back. Together we are going to make this school really fly now."

NOTE TO NEWS EDS: For more information contact Jackie Jackson on 01392 255554.

ENDS