A PRIMARY school deemed to have serious failings is celebrating after successfully recreating itself as happy, prosperous and well-organised.

In May 2001, Carnagill Community Primary School, in Catterick Garrison, received a damning inspection report, targeting "serious weaknesses" in its leadership and management.

Two years on, the school has turned itself around, with help from a new headteacher and a host of fundamental changes.

The team from Ofsted has now praised the school for being "resolute and successful in resolving the key issues of the previous inspection."

Sandie Fitton took the role of headteacher last October and said that almost everything has been changed in order to raise the standards.

"The staff and the governors needed a better kind of leadership and the school needed to have some direction," she said.

"We needed to move forward quickly and the school had a complete overhaul."

The school has been commended on its teaching and learning progress, the diversity of the curriculum and the continual rise in standards.

"This has really given the staff and the governors a boost and improvements will continue to be made," said Mrs Fitton.

A team of four inspectors did find areas that need to be addressed. Attendance among the 120 boys and girls was below average and it was felt there should be more provision for gifted and talented children.

But the school's turn-around has prompted positive feedback from the parents, who, the report said, were "very clear in identifying the great improvements that have taken place."

The Key Stage 2 tests also saw attainment levels increase dramatically.

"Eighty-five per cent of the 11-year olds achieved average standards or above - that is a phenomenal rise from the 39 per cent last year," said Mrs Fitton.