A VILLAGE school placed in special measures has “improved enormously” according to Government inspectors.

Kirby Primary Academy in Halstead Road, Kirby Cross, agreed it is “now firmly on the road to recovery.”

Ofsted inspectors rated the academy’s leadership and management as good and its personal development, behaviour and welfare as good.

However, the quality of its learning, teaching and assessment, plus outcomes for pupils and early years provision “requires improvement,” which was also the school’s overall rating.

Ofsted commented: “Kirby Primary Academy has improved enormously since its predecessor school was inspected and found to be inadequate in 2013.

“The new headteacher has a very clear vision for how the school will become good and she is tireless in her efforts to achieve it.”

The report also said “pupils’ behaviour has improved enormously”, the “quality of teaching has improved as a result of the head teacher’s insistence of high standards” and the “multi-academy trust provides good support and challenge to the academy.”

Headteacher Alison Griggs was lauded for her role.

The report added: “The head teacher is passionate in her drive to improve the school. Her resilience, clear vision and sheer determination have taken a failing school and put it on the road to recovery. She does not shy away from difficult decisions and is not afraid to tackle poor teaching and other staffing issues when necessary.

“The calm, peaceful, happy school that exists today is very far removed from the extremely unhappy one of such a short time ago.”

Kirby Primary Academy teaches 209 pupils aged four to 11.  It became an academy in October 2013, after its predecessor school was put in special measures following an inspection in February 2013.

Mrs Griggs said: “We raised the expectations of the children and focused on ensuring that their contribution is valued.”