A JUNIOR school has leapt from inadequate to good in just over a year.

Ofsted has decreed that Lowerhouse Junior School in Burnley is no longer subject to special measures after the quick turnaround.

The Liverpool Road school has gone from the worst Ofsted rating to the second highest in just 15 months.

Head teacher Claire Holgate praised the staff, governors and pupils for their refusal to give up on their school.

Ofsted also championed the school’s new head for bringing an inspirational management style to Lowerhouse.

Inspectors praised ‘consistently good teaching’ from staff and said pupils were ‘keen and attentive learners’.

Ofsted inspector Shirley Gornall said: “In her first year in post, the headteacher has inspired and energised staff, secured their commitment to improvement, and developed the school as an outward-facing hub in the community.

“The recently-appointed deputy head teacher has also had immediate impact and has boosted leadership capacity to improve the school still further.

“Teamwork among staff is a notable strength, underpinning their high morale and absolute commitment to ensuring that pupils enjoy school and achieve well.”

Ms Gornall also described the curriculum as ‘vibrant’ and said it had captured the imagination of pupils.

She added: “Pupils’ achievement in reading, writing and mathematics has improved rapidly since the school’s previous inspection.

“The proportions of pupils making and exceeding expected progress from their relative starting points are consistently above national figures across subjects.

“Concerted action has secured strong improvement in reading, writing and mathematics for pupils of all ages and groups.”

Mrs Holgate added: “We are thrilled to have achieved this in such a short space of time as it is not something you hear of very often.”