A school which was told it needs to improve has won praise from government inspectors.

Fakenham Infant and Nursery School came in for criticism from Ofsted a little over a year ago, and was given the second worst grade a school can be given: “requires improvement”.

Since then, measures have been put in place to raise teaching and learning standards at the Norwich Road school, and Sarah Gallichan

has been appointed as the headteacher.

The school has now been deemed as “good” by the education watchdog.

In their report, inspectors put the improvements down to Mrs Gallichan’s “drive and ambition” for the school, and the support given by staff and the governing body.

Mrs Gallichan, who was previously the deputy head and had been acting headteacher for 18 months, said: “It’s been a rollercoaster but everyone at the school has worked together and there’s been a fantastic team effort.

“Everyone has moved forward with the recommendations made and changes we have put in place. The inspection report is a fantastic validation of all the hard work put in.”

The inspectors say pupils’ attainment has improved year on year, and that teachers make learning interesting.

The report adds: “The calm and determined leadership of the headteacher, the deputy headteacher and other school leaders, supported by an effective governing body, have brought about significant improvements.

“The high expectations of staff and governors and the school’s statement of ‘Together we can’ underpin the work of the school, in which teaching has improved and pupils’ achievement is good.”

The school is not yet “outstanding”, according to the Ofsted inspectors, as pupils’ progress in writing, although good, is not as fast as in reading and mathematics and more work has to be done to address regular attendance with some families.