A VILLAGE school which was rocked by a damning Ofsted report last year is on the way up.

So much so that staff and pupils held a celebration day to mark its improvements.

Linthwaite Ardron CE Junior and Infant School was given a notice to improve by Government education inspectors in March last year, after it was judged to be inadequate.

But 16 months on it has been re-inspected as a good school with outstanding features.

And to make it a double celebration, the school is marking 25 years in its current building.

Headteacher Eelin Megson said the Ofsted outcome was the “icing on the cake” for the school.

She said parent loyalty to the school was testament to a growing roll and high attendance at the school in Church Lane.

Mrs Megson added: “A fantastic day was had by all.

“The school looks forward to the summer break proud of all its achievements and most proud of our children who are all special and gifted in their individual ways.”

The original church school in Linthwaite was built in 1830, two years after the church was built, with one large room and a smaller room for infants.

Attendance grew and on July 29, 1882, the foundation stone was laid for a building to provide accommodation for 630 children.

The current building takes the name Ardron from Gerald Ardron, a locally born benefactor who lived in America.

He donated a substantial sum of money for the building of the new school which was completed and opened in the academic year 1985-1986.

Recent work has included replacement of doors and windows, modernisation of classrooms, a covered area for reception, office accommodation and a new classroom to accommodate the 25% increase in numbers.

The celebration day include school Eucharist by the Right Rev Tony Robinson, Bishop of Pontefract, and the official opening of the new accommodation by the Right Rev Stephen Platten Bishop of Wakefield.

He blessed a mosaic created for the 25th anniversary by artists Clare Phelan and Debbie George who worked with all sections of the school community to create a section of tiling.

There was also an exhibition of photographs and documents recording the history of the school and a cake in the shape of the school created by parent Judy Smithies.

Children enjoyed a picnic lunch in the school grounds and in the afternoon there were sporting activities in the school grounds and at Broad Oak Cricket Club.

On offer were rugby, football, cricket, volleyball and Bollywood dancing thanks to Huddersfield Giants, Huddersfield Football in the Community Scheme and Project Sport.

Children took home a commemorative mug to mark the occasion which was designed by pupil Fiza Riaz.

A summer fair organised by the Friends of Ardron followed and offered a variety of activities including a bouncy castle and train rides. It raised more than £500 for the school.

Mrs Megson added: “The school has truly turned itself around and the celebration day was a well deserved opportunity to boost our school community having worked our socks off over the last 16 months”.

In 2010 Ofsted said the school needed to improve attainment at key stage two, improve maths overall in school and ensure more capable learners in year six also increased their attainment.