A NEW headteacher is celebrating with staff and pupils after Ofsted judged her school to be a good and getting better.

Samantha Gallant started work at Kirkheaton Primary School in September and government education inspectors visited after her first two terms last month.

Chief inspector Ian Richardson said her leadership and management was having an effective impact on improving the school.

“Under the excellent leadership of the new headteacher a new management structure has been created,” he said.

He also praised the progress made by pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities as outstanding.

Pupils behaviour was seen to be exemplary.

The report said children were prepared for a future healthy life extremely well.

The foundation stage provided the youngest children with an excellent start to their education and teaching was good or better.

The use of ICT to aid learning was seen as a strength of the school.

It had caring, close community and parents supported the school.

The spiritual, cultural, moral and social education at the school were seen to be outstanding as was the support, guidance and care given to pupils. Children were seen to enjoy a good range of curricular activities which increased their enjoyment of school.

The areas inspectors found that needed improvement were challenging the most able children in every lesson and ensuring the transition from the Foundation Stage to key stage one was managed with an emphasis on maximising the progress of all pupils.