A GOVERNMENT inspector has praised the “outstanding impact” of a new headteacher at a school which went into special measures last year.

The John Henry Newman CofE Primary School had been judged to have made good progress since the inspector’s last visit.

Lisa Biggin took over as headteacher in September and inspector Ian Hodgkinson praised her vision in developing the Littlemore school’s ethos and putting it at the heart of the community.

He said: “There is a palpable sense of enthusiasm for the vigorous pace of these new developments among pupils, parents and carers, and the large majority of staff.”

Also highlighted was the rise in pupil attendance and the improved quality of teaching.

Pupils’ scores had previously suggested that they were about a year behind their peers in academic development.

But the inspector now judged lessons to be “well managed” and that the pupils’ progress had exceeded the nationally expected rate. He said that “for the first time no inadequate teaching was observed”.

The only area singled out for improvement was the school’s programme for phonics and guided reading.