EDUCATION offered at Christchurch's Somerford Primary School has been "transformed" and is now ranked as Good across the board.

Ofsted inspectors had high praise for the Draper Road school following a recent two-day visit.

The school was placed in special measures and rated as Inadequate just two years ago.

But since then it has been taken over by a new leadership team and is "unrecognisable" and "calm and harmonious throughout the day."

Government inspectors spent two days at the school in March and have just published their findings.

They said: "The executive head teacher has transformed the quality of education provided by the school. The quality of teaching, learning and assessment is good. Teaching inspires and motivates pupils of all abilities to want to learn."

They said some of the school's older pupils still have gaps in their learning due to a history of poor teaching but added: "Gaps in pupils' knowledge in reading, writing and mathematics are closing rapidly."

And they also praised pupil progress, personal development, behaviour and welfare and said: "Pupils' attendance and punctuality has improved significantly and is now in line with the national average."

Somerford Primary has 405 pupils between the ages of four and 11and has a higher than average proportion of children who are disabled or have special educational needs as well as those eligible for extra funding known as pupil premium.

Executive head teacher Sandra Matthews said: "We are absolutely delighted that this report has recognised the improvements that the school has made over the past two years.

"Children at Somerford Primary School are now getting the great education that they deserve. We now seek to build on this achievement as we strive for Outstanding."