THE acting head teacher of a Bridport primary school placed in special measures earlier this year believes the school is continuing to grow in a "positive way". 

Rowan Beecham, from Loders Primary School, spoke to the News after Ofsted published its latest report from a second monitoring inspection held in July. 

Inspector David Edwards said the school was making "reasonable progress" towards the removal of special measures. 

The report, published earlier this month, said parents’ confidence in the school’s leadership had been restored. 

Ms Beecham said: “We feel really positive in the way we are moving forward at the moment. There have been dramatic changes all to a positive effect.

“There’s consistency in where we are moving forward and the school will continue to grow.” 

The school was placed in special measures following an inspection that took place in November 2014 which said the school’s leadership had gone from outstanding to inadequate. 

Ofsted recommended the quality of teaching should be improved to be at least good or better throughout the whole school and to improve leadership of the headteacher. 

Shirley Gibbs, head teacher at the time of the inspection, did not return to the school after the Christmas break and has since resigned.

Following the school’s first monitoring inspection in March, the Echo reported shortly afterwards that Miss Gibbs was still officially recorded as absent. Dorset County Council has since confirmed to the Echo that Miss Gibbs has resigned. 

While assessing the school in March, Ofsted found the school was back on track following changes to its leadership, noting staff had a clearer understanding of how to secure improvement. 

Following a second monitoring inspection held in July, Mr Edwards continued to note positive reviews of the school. 

In Ofsted’s latest report, he said: “The school’s work to keep pupils safe and secure is good. Parents’ confidence in the leadership of the school has been restored.

“Parents especially appreciate how hard staff have worked to make sure pupils’ learning has not been adversely disrupted in the past academic year because of the changes to leadership.”

Ms Beecham said the school’s intake for its reception class this year was a good indicator of the progress the school had made.

She said: “We have got 11 reception children starting at the school this year. Our maximum capacity is 12. That’s really positive. The school is really growing in a positive way.

“I think it reflects that the local community has a lot of faith in the school.”

The school is now working towards becoming part of the Acorn Multi Academy Trust.

Ms Beecham said: “It’s all moving forward. We haven’t got a date set yet but it will be in the next few months.”