Pupils and staff at Saxon Way Primary are celebrating after their school was rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted.

The Gillingham school was placed in special measures after the schools watchdog found it to be inadequate.

Inspectors visited the school, which has 269 pupils, in June, and praised bosses for transforming the school’s culture and raising the expectations of staff to meet the pupils’ aspirations.

Angela Sandow, head of school, said: “We are absolutely over the moon.

“It was such a glowing report and is testament to the whole community to the families, the pupils and the staff. We couldn’t have wished for anything better, apart from outstanding!

“The one thing about the report is that it’s just so positive about the community, it’s a testament to our families and how far we have come and the children, and their families, really deserve that.”

In the report, inspector Mark Cole wrote: “Leaders and staff are relentless and have been successful in improving pupils’ behaviour and creating a safe, calm, purposeful school.

“Pupils who started their education in this school are increasingly working at, or beyond, age-related expectations.

“Leaders have strengthened teaching so that pupils in Key Stage 2 are making more rapid progress to wipe out the legacy of poor teaching in the past.

“All adults show respect and warmth towards pupils and this has a positive impact on pupils’ personal and social development.”

Saxon Way Primary joined The Griffin Schools Trust in 2013, which looks after schools across the country, including Lordswood Primary and Kingfisher Primary, Chatham,

Liz Lewis, joint chief executive of the Griffin Schools Trust, said: “We are all very proud of the school and its leaders for building long term improvement.

“It’s amazing what has been achieved in just two and a half years.

“It’s particularly pleasing to see that the inspectors noticed how much the Saxon pupils enjoy school and the positive relationships between the children and the staff.”

The school also held a carnival to celebrate the end of the Griffin School’s Trust arts festival.

A group of Year 5 pupils entered a competition earlier on in the year to win a three-day trip to London to visit arts museums and to watch a show at the theatre.

In school, pupils spent two weeks focusing on the arts, making masks and costumes, which culminated in a school carnival, where youngsters had the chance to meet exotic animals and show off their handiwork.

More pictures in tomorrow's Medway Messenger.