RAWTHORPE Junior School is celebrating after being removed from special measures.

Improved pupil behaviour, better teaching and strong leadership have led to the school being removed from "failing school" status.

It was marked by a visit from education inspectors.

Caroline Gruen, Kirklees head of learning, and Clr Geoff Alvy, visited the school to congratulate the pupils and teaching staff.

Ian Williamson, headteacher, started work at the school just after it was placed in special measures in April 2004.

He said he was extremely proud of the children, staff and parents.

"They have all pulled together at an extremely challenging time and I am delighted.

"One of the major strengths of this schools is its links with the community.

"We have a high percentage of children from asylum seeking and migrant worker families and we work closely with everyone to help raise not just our pupils but parents and community educational standards."

Inspectors who visited the 194-pupil school last month said it had improved a great deal since its previous inspection when it was judged to be poor.

The team said measures to tackle misconduct and disinterest in work had proved successful, pupils had made satisfactory progress in lessons.

A befrienders scheme at the school received particular praise.

The arrival of headteacher Ian Williamson in the summer of 2004 had "heralded a period of greater stability".

Work however must continue, say inspectors, with a drive to improve attendance being particularly important.

Continuing to improve standards, focusing on basic skills and improving the quality of teaching is also needed.

In a letter to pupils, inspector Stephen Hardwick said: "Mr Williamson and the teachers have made school a more interesting and calmer place to be.

"Your behaviour is better and you try harder in class.

"I hope you can build on everything that you and the teachers have achieved."

* Rawthorpe Junior is the fourth Kirklees school to come out of special measures in the last few months.

* Rawthorpe High School was taken out in November last year, Fartown High School and Birkby Junior Schools last month.

* Three Kirklees schools remain in special measures: Hopton Junior and Infant School, Mirfield (since November 2004); Birkdale High School (since July 2005); Educating Those Out of School (Ethos) pupils referral unit, Rawthorpe (since 2005).