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Pupils and staff at a school in Haverhill are celebrating a favourable report from its latest Ofsted inspection.

Inspectors found good quality teaching,’ high expectations for behaviour and good relationships between adults and children, among the strengths of Coupals Primary School.

It is described as an effective school in which the strengths, including areas of excellence, outweigh the weaknesses.

Standards are currently below average at the end of Year 4, partly because of the high number of pupils with statements of special educational needs.

Teaching is good Overall, but there is also a significant amount of unsatisfactory teaching.

“Although the rate of improvement over the last five years has been too slow, the school is now welt placed to continue and develop,” the report said.

Inspectors found significant improvements were made at the school in the last two years since the appointment of headteacher Barbara Maguire, and felt this would continue.

An excellent start was given to early years pupils, who were eager to come to school, and the school is particularly successful in supporting pupils with special educational needs.

Mrs Maguire said: “I am delighted the hard work of pupils and staff has been recognised.”

Phil Weaver. chairman of the governors, said: “We are very pleased with the report, which is the culmination of a lot of hard work by staff.

“We will obviously be taking note of the issues raised with a view to moving the school forward.”

Report findings

* Very high quality teaching and care in the Area Support Centre enables pupils with moderate learning difficulties to make good progress.
* The headteacher, staff and governors have developed good links with parents and encourage them to be involved actively in their children’s learning.
* Most pupils, especially those in the early years and reception classes and Years 1 and 2, behave well and are very enthusiastic about their work in lessons.
* Pupils of above average ability often do not make as much progress as they should.
* The quality of teaching and standards of attainment are not monitored and evaluated in a systematic way.
* The school does not identify clearly what it expects pupils to achieve by the end of Year 4

CAPTION: Pleased … headteacher Barbara McGuire with some of the pupils of Coupals Primary School in Haverhill.