Inspectors put school in country's top two per cent'

A NETHERTON primary school has become the only one in the borough to achieve an outstanding' Ofsted report.

Netherbrook Primary School in Chester Road is the only primary out of the 85 in Dudley borough to have been graded as outstanding', scooping a succession of grade ones across the board for its achievement and standards, teaching and learning, curriculum, care, guidance and management.

In the report, inspectors said Netherbrook was an outstanding school which made a tremendous difference for its pupils, who made rapid progress from the time they started school to the time they left.

Headteacher Jennifer Atherton was also praised throughout, with inspectors finding her outstanding leadership and management as the reason for the excellent achievement of all pupils.

The report said: "The guiding light in the leadership and management of the school is the headteacher.

"Her ambition and vision for the school is shared by the strong staff team, which has ensured that priorities for development have been completed very effectively."

Teaching standards were also commended, with inspectors saying lessons were enjoyable, challenging, fun and practical.

The report said: "The pupils enjoy learning in an active way and teachers are very good at providing work to stimulate them to very brisk progress."

Superhead Jennifer Atherton said: "We are absolutely delighted with the report, but it doesn't just happen overnight and it has taken a number of years for it to work.

"It is really good that the hard work of the staff and children has been recognised by the Ofsted inspectors.

"We have also heard that only two per cent of schools in the country get graded as outstanding, so we feel really, really honoured."