A headteacher is “delighted” that Ofsted has found her Upminster school no longer required improvements and rated it “good”.

Inspectors from the education watchdog found that teaching at James Oglethorpe Primary School had improved and students were progressing ahead of the national trend.

Headteacher, Deborah Rowles, said: “I was absolutely delighted with this report, especially after two years of dedicated and accelerated effort to focus on improvements that Ofsted said we needed to make following our last inspection.

“To be recognised as a strong, hard-working school community is wonderful and there is much for everyone involved, teachers, staff, parents, pupils and governors, to feel justifiably proud of.”

In 2012 inspectors visiting the school, in Ashvale Gardens, did not see enough good teaching.

During June’s inspection they reported that “teachers know their pupils extremely well and ensure that lessons are planned with interesting activities to cater for their individual learning needs.”

Ofsted’s report adds: “Pupils’ behaviour in lessons and around the school is good and there are excellent relationships in all areas.

“Pupils feel safe and enjoy coming to school because of the wide range of interesting learning activities.”

Havering Council’s cabinet member for children and learning, Cllr Meg Davis, said: “Well done to everyone at James Oglethorpe Primary School, who have worked so hard to see this recognition by Ofsted.

“To see such lovely comments in their report is fantastic. No school likes to be told it requires improvement following an inspection, but everyone at this school did exactly the right thing by picking themselves up and working extremely hard, very fast, to ensure they addressed all the concerns.”

Ofsted has said that to become outstanding the school must increase opportunities for pupils to extend their thinking skills and learning. Inspectors also felt that pupils did not respond in detail to teacher’s comments in exercise books.