HIGHLY effective were the two words which summed up an Ofsted inspection team's view of one Bury school.

From the very beginning of their detailed report, the independent inspectors made clear their high regard for St Joseph and St Bede's RC primary.

Their leader, Elizabeth Camplin, in her opening remarks said: "This is a highly effective school. Pupils attain high standards of achievement by the time they are eleven years old.

"Good teaching, including some excellent practice, enables pupils to make considerable progress from low levels of attainment on entry to the nursery."

She added: "The headteacher works very effectively with key staff. They provide excellent leadership and management and the whole staff team provides care and guidance of a high quality.

"Governors support the school well and ensure that it makes the most of its financial, human and physical resources. The school provides very good value for money."

The Ofsted team were particularly impressed by the standards of literacy and numeracy skills, together with science which they said was taught "so thoroughly" that pupils achieve "high academic standards" by Year 6.

Their judgement was that analysing the test results for the past two years, the school has "real potential" to raise its standards to a level that will take it into the top five per cent of schools nationally. They also commented extremely favourably on "the considerable effort and skill" which is invested in fostering pupils' care, well-being and ensuring all-round development.

This was said to help the youngsters "form excellent relationships, develop a love of learning and behave particularly well".

The home/school partnership was described as "excellent" with St Joseph and St Bede's epitomising parents' ideal of "a strong and vibrant Christian community".

Also highly praised was "the outstanding leadership and management" by the headteacher which, combined with very good teamwork, enabled the school to build on its success and go from strength to strength.

The registered inspector went on: "Standards of work are high in both key stages.

"Pupils in Year 6 achieve close to capacity in the three core subjects of English, mathematics and science, and Year 2 pupils do well in writing and science and are improving from a sound base in their reading.

"Standards have shown consistent improvement in the past three years. The school has succeeded in meeting, or exceeding its annual targets. Results in 2001 confirm this positive trend".

Children with special educational needs benefit from tasks that challenge and motivate them.

The report praised head teacher Ms Sue McAvady, describing her as "unfailingly courteous, patient and fair in the way she relates to others".

Commenting on how good teaching characterises the whole school, the Inspector added: "Overall, pupils' progress is impressive between starting in the nursery and leaving school at the end of Year 6."

Chairman of governors, Mr Tony Mannion, said: "On behalf of the governors of the school I would like to congratulate Ms McAvady and her teachers, staff and pupils on an outstanding and well deserved report.

"It is especially pleasing, I think, that the Inspectors recognised Ms McAvady's qualities as an exemplary role model, and that provision for children's spiritual moral, social and cultural development is exceedingly good."

Ms McAvady added: "I am delighted that Ofsted have recognised our school in such a positive way.

"We are fortunate to have a dedicated team of hardworking staff and governors who ensure that our children receive the very best education possible."

She added: "Our children are very responsive to school and are well supported by their parents.

"Our high standards and excellent behaviour are the result of everyone working hard and recognising each others talents and needs."