A STOURBRIDGE primary school which was branded 'inadequate' last year is making “significant strides” to leaving special measures after recent improvements.

After an inspection in November 2015, Ofsted decided Ham Dingle Primary School needed to make a number of changes to improve the education it was providing its pupils.

At the time, inspectors said school leaders did not have the capacity to improve because of the “broken relationship” between the headteacher and the governing body, and also stated that there was “no collective view” on the future direction for the school.

They also raised issues of safeguarding, calling the school’s measure “ineffective” and that not enough pupils in the school were making as much progress as they should.

Jackie Grace, interim headteacher at Ham Dingle Primary School, said: “We received the Ofsted report and, working with the local authority and new chair of governors, are already putting steps in place to address the findings of the inspectors.

“The education of our children is the utmost priority and our work now is to make those recommended changes and move forward.”

The Old Ham Lane school was revisited by inspectors on May 17 and 18 who were impressed by the improvements the school has made.

A recently published report stated that pupils’ skills have “steadily improved” due to better teaching, while it praised the “strong leadership” from Ms Grace and said the interim executive board has played a “vital part in steering the school in the right direction”.

The report said: “The interim executive board and interim headteacher have stabilised the school and gained the trust of pupils, staff and parents in a short space of time.

“Pupils enjoy coming to school as it is a happy place with a positive atmosphere throughout.

“Parents are very supportive of the interim headteacher … and are pleased with the improvements that have been made to improve security and safeguarding.”

Stuart Bellworthy, Her Majesty’s Inspector, said: “Having considered all the evidence I am of the opinion that at this time that leaders and managers are taking effective action towards the removal of special measures.”

Councillor Ian Cooper, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for children’s services, said the local authority has been working “particularly closely” with the school which is “already making significant strides in the right direction and share our vision for putting the educational needs of children as a top priority”.