HEADTEACHER John Horrell today paid tribute to staff after his Weymouth school was praised in its Ofsted report.

He said that the Ofsted inspector recognised the hard work of staff at St John's Church of England School in Coombe Avenue.

Inspector Hazel Callaghan found that the school was 'satisfactorily effective' in the education it provided with satisfactory teaching, learning, leadership and management.

She said that teaching and learning were good in the foundation stage and in years one, two and six but that improvements were needed to continue to raise standards in writing.

Other areas for development included assessment, guidance for subject co-ordinators and more consultation with parents.

Mr Horrell said: "Most of these issues have already been identified for attention.

"I am delighted that so many of the other areas that staff work hard at and care deeply about have been recognised and commended."

Mrs Callaghan highlighted Mr Horrell's leadership and the school's good financial management, extra-curricular clubs and activities, and care for pupils' welfare and health and safety. She said: "The school can be justifiably proud that its Christian ethos is reflected in the very caring support it gives to its pupils, helping them develop socially and personally."

A separate inspection into St John's religious education and Christian ethos commended the school for its high standards.

The reports come after the school launched a new nursery and out of school club at the start of this term.

Mrs Callaghan also said that pupils with special needs achieve well and that art and design was a particular strength of the curriculum.

She added: "The school had made satisfactory improvements since the previous inspection.

"Standards in some subjects have declined but this is because of the changes in the school population.

"There is now double the proportion of pupils with special needs to that found in most schools nationally.

"The school's difficulties in managing the budget, as the numbers in the school declined, also reduced the effectiveness of plans to move the school forward."