A Black Country primary school is starting to turn the corner following a recent visit by Government inspectors which highlighted a number of concerns.

Bramford Primary in Woodsetton, was handed a notice ordering it to improve by the Ofsted team following a two day inspection last September. Issues raised included the need to improve pupils’ progress and raise standards, boost match teaching and structure the school’s curriculum more closely to the needs of the students.

The team also said the school needed to better analyse the impact of new initiatives on children and make sure youngsters are given clear instructions about how they can improve.

The school in Chad Road, was re-visited by Jacqueline Wordsworth last month when she chatted with staff, pupils and parents to see how they felt about the changes made since her last visit.

She said: “I am of the opinion that the school is making satisfactory progress in addressing the issues for improvement and in raising the pupils’ achievement.

“Encouragingly in most year groups there is evidence of an increasingly high proportion of pupils reaching age-related expectations and of pupils of all abilities making satisfactory gains.”

However, despite largely praising the school for making good progress Mrs Wordsworth said there are still improvements which need to be made if Bramford Primary is to overcome its legacy of underachievement.

She stressed standards remain below average and some of the more advanced pupils need to be set more challenging targets while some of the new strategies need to be in place longer to fully assess their effectiveness.

Headteacher Len Hazelhurst said he is pleased with the outcome of the latest visit and is now working towards a full inspection by the Ofsted team in September or October.

He said: “The latest visit recognises all the hard work everyone has put in and that the school is moving in the right direction.

“Everybody says we are making progress and hopefully the full Ofsted report later in the year will also acknowledge that,” he added.