ONE of Oxford’s most popular primary schools has been awarded a good rating by Ofsted.

But SS Philip and James School in Navigation Way, Walton Manor – known to most as Phil and Jim’s – again fell short of outstanding.

Lead inspector Avtar Sherri said all groups of pupils achieved well and the vast majority made good progress.

He pointed to real enjoyment of reading as one of the school’s strengths.

But he said: “Too little teaching is outstanding.

“In a number of lessons, teachers talk for too long and this restricts independence and the progress of, particularly, the more able.”

He also said marking was inconsistent.

The school, which has 404 pupils, was told to improve the quality of teaching so it was consistently good or better by reducing the number of lessons with too much teacher talk.

It was also called on to improve the consistency of marking and quality of feedback on pupils’ work.

It received a good rating in all areas. At its previous inspection in November 2007, it was also rated good.