A PRIMARY school has been praised for its good quality teaching and the positive attitudes of its pupils.

The team of Ofsted inspectors said that Benjamin Hargreaves Primary, Barnfield Street, Accrington, identified that pupils' behaviour, personal development and relationships were all very good and particular strengths of the school.

Head teacher Mrs Daphne Durham was praised for her leadership and clear vision of the school's strengths and needs.

Other strengths of the 164-pupil school were good partnerships with parents and a very good provision for pupils spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

The inspectors commented on the progress made in science, design and technology and physical education since the last inspection three years ago. It was felt that the improvement was made by the importance attached to monitoring teaching, which Ofsted said was well established and effective. The four inspectors identified the need for teachers to continue to challenge higher attaining children and further develop a range of literacy skills across the wider curriculum.

The school needed to raise standards in information and communication technology, whose teaching is restricted by cramped conditions. The positive attitudes of children to learning and the good standards of behaviour identified in 1997 are still evident and are a strength of the school.

Children are proud of their school and have a high regard for their teachers. They enjoy their lessons and recreational activities.

The school's governors were also praised for carrying out their duties well and their high level of involvement with the school.

Chairman of the governors Mrs Kathleen Jones said: "We are delighted with this excellent Ofsted report and take pride in the high standards achieved by our staff and pupils.

"The accommodation available in school will be improved as a result of the new Key Stage one classroom in construction and we look forward to a further classroom in the near future which will relieve our current cramped conditions and allow IT to be taught more effectively."

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