PUPILS at Boasley Cross Primary School are achieving above average standards because of the good teaching they receive, education inspectors have found.

Inspectors from Ofsted said the school provided real ?added value? for all of its 41 pupils and had many strengths.

Children began school with broadly average attainment but by the time they left at 11, standards in English, maths and science were above average because of the teaching quality described as ?very good.?

The inspectors said this was achieved last year despite significant disruption to the school community because of the foot and mouth epidemic.

The three Ofsted inspectors who spent three days at Boasley Cross in June described the pupils as ?very well behaved and very keen to learn?.

?The headteacher, staff and governors work well as a team to improve standards for all pupils and are fully committed to continuing this,? they said.

The report concluded that the school had improved even further since the good report it received in 1997.

Other highlights of the inspection were:

l The headteacher Rosemarie Williams leads and manages the school very well and works closely and effectively with staff and governors who play a very active and well informed part.

l Boasley Cross cares very well for its pupils who enjoy coming to school and have a very good attitude towards it.

l The school enriches the curriculum very well so it interests and motivates all pupils.

l The very good partnership with parents makes a considerable contribution to pupils? learning.

The inspectors recognise that work had already started to develop Information and Communications Technology to raise standards further. They note that this work was ?hindered? by the foot and mouth crisis last year.

Headteacher Rosemarie Williams said after the successful introduction of the literacy and numeracy strategies, the school was already planning to focus on IT this year.

There was e-mail in the classroom so pupils could work at home and e-mail it in. The children would also be heavily involved in developing the school?s website to give them practical, hands-on ICT experience.

Chair of governors Brian Timms said: ?We are very proud of the report which acknowledges the hard work and support of governors, staff, children and parents.

?The acknowledgment by Ofsted that the school is very well managed and led by headteacher and supported by staff and governors and that funds are utilised in a very effective manner is very pleasing.?