THE headteacher of a 138-year-old Blackburn school has been praised by Ofsted despite being told the school requires improvement.

Michael Parker, who only joined Sacred Heart RC Primary School in Lynwood Road only in January, was hailed by the education watchdog but was told that more still needed to be done for it to be rated as ‘good’ in the future.

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The school, where pupils speak 18 different languages between them, was told to improve its teaching, pupil outcomes and early years provision following an inspection last month but was praised for the personal development, behaviour and welfare of its pupils.

Mr Parker, who joined from Witton Academy, said: “When the school was last inspected in December 2013 it also was given a 'requires improvement' grade.

“There has been a lot of instability over the last few years but that has now all gone and we are moving forward.

“When we were inspected this time there was an aim to make schools into academies. That could be a reason behind this grade.

“Also, if a school has lots of pupils who don’t speak English as a first language, you are not realistically going to get them as easily to the same level as those who do.”

The school, which has been at its present site since 1901, has been under treat of closure for several years but its future has now been secured and has the full backing of the Diocese of Salford.

Lead Ofsted inspector Andree Coleman said: “Repeated changes in leadership and governance and constant staff turnover have limited attempts to bring about improvement.

“The new headteacher has quickly identified the improvements needed to raise standards.

“He has set much more ambitious targets for pupils and has worked with staff to improve the quality of teaching.

“For example, there is a new marking policy to improve the effectiveness of teachers’ marking and, as a result, increased progress is evident in pupils’ work.

“However, there are some minor inconsistencies in the implementation of the policy so it is not equally effective in all classes and subjects.

“But the new headteacher has motivated staff well and there is a much stronger culture of improvement and ambition for pupils."

“Staff fully understand the headteacher’s vision which he has communicated well.

“This academic year, and particularly since his appointment, there is a clear improvement evident in pupils’ work and standards are rising, particularly in the early years and Key Stage Two.

“A new policy to hold teachers rigorously to account for the progress pupils make has been implemented, but the full impact of this is not yet evident.”