‘DECISIVE leadership’ at an improving Burnley school has been praised by Ofsted inspectors.

Ightenhill Primary School was previously rated as satisfactory, but is now classed as good after imp-roving pupils’ progress.

The Alder Street school was said to have rais-ed standards to the point where pupils achieve well, especially in reading and writing.

The 284-pupil school was also praised for success within their small res-ource base for pupils with speech, language and com- munication needs.

Inspectors said teach-ing is good with ‘examples of outstanding practice’.

In the report, lead inspector Geoffrey Yates said: “Decisive leadership and management by the headteacher have greatly improved teaching and pupils’ progress since the last inspection.

“The school is well pl-aced to make further improvements.”

Mr Yates added: “Children enter the Early Years Foundation Stage with skills, knowledge and understanding well below that typical for this age.

“Over time, children make good progress because of good teaching.

“Children make especially good progress in their personal development.

“Pupils’ progress across the rest of the school is good, especially in reading and writing.

“There are some exam-ples of writing being used well in other subjects.”

The inspector said lead- ership was flourishing as ‘the headteacher has the confidence of the school’s governing body, the local authority, and a large majority of par-ents and of staff’.

He said: “Leadership and management since the last inspection have driven improvement with considerable success.

“Members of the gov-erning body bring a wide range of experience and expertise to their role.

“The governing body is led well by an enthusiastic chairperson.

“All legal requirements are met. Governors not only support the school, but ask challenging quest- ions of it.”