A SCHOOL which was criticised in an inspector's report, says it now faces a more promising future.

St Barnabas and St Paul's Church of England Primary School, Blackburn, promises to embark on a "new era" following a second report which praised staff and pupils.

Last year the Office for Standards in Education, Ofsted, drew up a list of recommendations after warning it was likely to fail to give pupils an acceptable standard of education.

The inspector also called for special measures to be taken after it was revealed teachers had lost faith in their governors who were providing "poor leadership."

But an inspection by the Religious Education and Collective Worship praised staff for their commitment.

Inspector, Reverend Walter Drain, said lessons were well prepared with insight and imagination.

He said the multi-faith school had an atmosphere of mutual respect, compassion and care, and it had recovered well from a fire which devastated two-thirds of the school. Seventy-five per cent of pupils are of Asian heritage and many are from deprived households, one-parent families, or are involved with social services, the report says.

Headmaster, Graham Burrows, said that after a period of low morale, the school was now heading for a promising future.

He said: "The school has made significant progress since last September and we're pleased that this latest report acknowledges the fact that a new light is dawning."

Chairman of governors, The Reverend Peter Hallett, said: "It is good to know we are going in the right direction. We now have to work hard to make new policies to give effect to these good begin- nings."

A number of new recommendations has been drawn up, mainly dealing with religious issues at the school.

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