A SCHOOL placed in special measures two years ago received glowing praise about its determination to improve.

Ofsted's monitoring inspection of Seven Fields Primary School hailed the staff and leadership team's efforts to bounce back from a bad rating.

This follows a similarly-positive check-up inspectors carried out in January 2020 after the education body deemed the Penhill facility Inadequate in May 2019.

The latest report highlighted improvements to the curriculum which allowed pupils who fell behind to catch up more easily, staff are now better at improving students' reading skills, and the provision for pupils with special educational needs is better than before.

Inspector Heather Barraclough said: "You have been relentless in your drive and determination to improve the school.

"Many important changes have happened in a short space of time. The trust, local governing body, leaders and staff are working together well to secure improvement.

"Leaders and those responsible for governance are taking effective action to provide education in the current circumstances."

Since the 2020 inspection, the school has become part of the River Learning Trust which donated 150 laptops for pupils to learn from home.

The report recognised Seven Fields' efforts to support schoolchildren during the pandemic and communicate regularly with pupils' families during such an uncertain time.

And it commended the skills and expertise of the new governors as well as the risk assessments provided by the academy trust's leaders.

Headteacher Damien Booth hopes that this acknowledgement of their ongoing progress means the school will be lifted out of special measures when conditions allow a full inspection to be safely carried out.

He said: "We have been relentless in our pursuit of excellence, constantly on a journey of improvement and are on the cusp of coming out of special measures.

"Covid stopped the judgement being changed after a full inspection but we hope this next inspection will do that.

"We know we are doing a good job, so this report was not unexpected, though it is further ratification of the progress we have made.

"We have had a focused and systemic approach which teachers and pupils are used to and understand.

"Our staff have been fantastic supporting vulnerable pupils and hosting virtual lessons during the pandemic as well as creating a culture of learning and discovery that is stimulating and enjoyable.

"We want children to be independent, confident and resilient. One unexpected advantage of the pandemic was having the chance to unpack and revise our curriculum."

Inspectors carried out their latest inspection of the school remotely in February.