A SCHOOL has been praised for working hard to improve its standards of learning since emerging from special measures.

Mill Hill Community Primary School in Crosby Road, Northallerton, was judged good in its recent Ofsted inspection, making a marked improvement since it was placed in special measures in 2007, followed by six years of being sonsidered as requiring improvement.

The school came out of special measures in 2009, and is now described as a “calm and purposeful place in which to learn”.

Inspectors, who judge it to be good on all counts, say the balance of academic and personal care given to pupils is “seamless and impressive”.

Teaching in literacy and mathematics is “typically good and on occasions outstanding” according to Ofsted inspectors, who described a school where behaviour continues to improve.

They added that older pupils enjoy being role models for younger children “and are courteous and considerate to everyone”.

Sheila Sutton, chair of governors at Mill Hill, said: “I can honestly say that now when I walk around the school it is an entirely different place.

“The ethos is happy and hardworking. The children obviously enjoy school and the relationship between staff and children is cheerful and committed. It is a school to be proud of and will, I am sure, go from strength to strength.”

Pupils in year six are now working at levels above the national average in reading, writing and mathematics and the number of pupils on track to reach the higher levels in national tests is rising.

Co-headteacher Annie Croft, who was appointed at the same time as headteacher Stephen Hanscombe to take the school out of special measures, said: “We have come on a long journey.

“The school came out of special measures fairly quickly but since that time we have all worked together - staff, governors and families - to change the culture of learning and expectations.

“The local authority has held us to account and provided the necessary challenge. This is now a school where children have high expectations of themselves, both socially and academically and who believe that through hard work they can achieve whatever they want to do.”

Inspectors said to become an outstanding school improvements had to be made in reading, and in more students taking more responsibility for their learning.

North Yorkshire county councillor Arthur Barker said: “Our aim is for all our schools to be good or outstanding and schools like Mill Hill are among those showing the way.