ONE of County Durham's smallest schools has been praised for improving standards by Government inspectors.

Woodland Primary School, which has 28 pupils and two classes, serves a small village and farming community between Bishop Auckland and Middleton-in-Teesdale.

Although the report by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) was critical of the quality of teaching of younger pupils, finding "serious weaknesses", the inspection found that pupils came on in "leaps and bounds" when they moved to the second class for three to six-year-olds, and had achieved "high enough" standards by the time they left the school.

The report said the school had made satisfactory progress since its last inspection, and noted standards had improved in English, science, religious education and art.

The school was recently awarded a Government Achievement award for the level of improvement in its Standard Assessment Test (SAT) results between 1997 and 2000.

Headteacher Marilyn Gordon, who took over the school two terms before the inspection, was praised for her leadership and management.

Mrs Gordon said she and the governors had drawn up an action plan to address weaknesses and improvements had already been made to the quality of teaching in the class for younger pupils.

She said: "It is pleasing to note the very positive comments which the report makes about our pupils, and acknowledges that by the time they leave the school, they attain high enough standards."

County Durham education director Keith Mitchell said: "Staff in our very small schools needs a tremendous commitment to make them work. We are very grateful to our colleagues at Woodland Primary and our other small schools for the work they do.