Inspectors have hailed the improvements made at a Bilston school after a recent inspection found it to be good with outstanding features.

Bilston CE Primary School had previously been rated as requiring improvement, but in a report published on Friday (12 June, 2015), Ofsted highlighted the efforts of headteacher Gary Gentle and his team to improve teaching and pupil achievement at the popular school.

They said staff had created an environment where pupils are eager to learn and keen to do well, and particularly praised the pupils, who they said "achieve well in reading, writing and mathematics" and "behave exceptionally well in lessons and around the school."

They also recognised the important role being played by the school's governors, who they said "ask searching questions of the headteacher and other leaders, holding them to account for the school's improvement."

Overall, inspectors rated leadership and management, quality of teaching, pupil achievement and early years provision at Bilston CE Primary as good, and the behaviour and safety of pupils as outstanding.

Headteacher Gary Gentle said: "We are of course very happy with this report which reflects the efforts of everyone at Bilston CE Primary School to improve standards for our pupils. While it is pleasing to get such positive feedback, we will not rest on our laurels as we strive to fulfil our ambition of one day becoming an outstanding school."

Councillor Claire Darke, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Education, said: "I'd like to congratulate Gary Gentle and his team for this very positive inspection result.

"The tremendous improvements that have been made at Bilston CE Primary over the last few months have been down to the hard work of teachers, governors, pupils and parents, with support from the city council, and it is pleasing that the school is achieving such good outcomes for its young people."

She added: "Bilston CE Primary is one of a number of schools in Wolverhampton currently being expanded to cope with rising demand for places, and I'm pleased that the additional pupils who will be attending Bilston in September will be joining a school which is recognised by Ofsted as being good with outstanding features."

The inspection report is available via the Type=links;Linkid=6177;Title=Ofsted;Target=_blank; website .

  • released: Monday 15 June, 2015