A Romford school which was placed in special measures last year is improving.

Crowlands Primary School, in London Road, was given the lowest score available and rated inadequate by Ofsted inspectors last May.

But in its latest report inspectors rated it good for the progress it has made since the last monitoring visit in March.

Pupils and staff were monitored for two days during the visit and inspectors spoke to parents.

The school has had support from Crownfield Junior School, including help from its headteacher Gary Nott, who has been acting as an executive headteacher since the school was put into special measures.

Inspectors noted that under his management leaders and managers at all levels have used training to raise the expectations of what pupils can do and achieve.

The report said school leaders have implemented more strategies to raise achievement, and these have had a “positive impact” on the progress pupils make.

It added: “The most significant improvement is that teachers have higher expectations of pupils… (and) pupils are finding the lessons more interesting and they enjoy the activities.”

Inspectors noted that the progress made by most of the pupils was good in many lessons, and “pupils are beginning to catch up lost ground.”

But the rate of progress in Year 4, which was described as a “concern,” reflects some inadequacies in teaching.

School leaders said specific intervention programmes will be used to target these pupils.

Inspectors praised the school on reducing persistent absence, which they said has now improved.

And the report added: “School leaders continue to work with determination to improve the quality of teaching.

“The majority of teachers now have higher expectations of what pupils can achieve and a clearer picture of their previous attainment.”

The school will remain in special measures and under council control until it has improved sufficiently.