A school placed under special measures two years ago has raised its pupils' standards but still has serious weaknesses, according to an Ofsted report.

Harriers Grounds Primary School, in Bloxham Road, Banbury, was taken off the special measures list after inspectors spent two days at the school last October.

They said the school had made good progress in raising standards but also highlighted teaching weaknesses, particularly in some Key Stage One lessons.

Harriers Grounds School has 274 pupils aged four to 11.

The report said: "In the past, the attainment of children at Harriers was often above average, but increasingly more of the pupils have achieved below the levels expected of the age group in language, communication, numeracy, and social development."

Around 14 per cent of the pupils have special educational needs -- in line with the national average -- and the proportion of children entitled to free meals, at 11 per cent, is below average.

The school was placed under special measures after an inspection in January 2000 when it was said that the pupils were not receiving an acceptable standard of education.

Special measures meant the school was inspected every few months instead of every four years.

The main finding from inspectors who visited the school in October was that it had improved enough to be taken out of special measures.

Their report said: "Harriers is now providing an acceptable standard of education but nevertheless there are serious weaknesses."