QUALITY of teaching at Penny Bridge CE School was described as "good overall" by Ofsted inspectors.

An Ofsted short inspection report said teaching at the Greenodd-based infant and junior school was very good in Key Stage 1 and good in Key Stage 2 with good standards in English and Maths by the ages of seven and 11.

Inspectors found there was good provision for music and PE and the 81 pupils developed good relationships, behaved well and had high levels of independence.

The school also had good links with parents and the community.

Areas for improvement were identified as the need to explicitly plan the curriculum to give opportunities to develop literacy and numeracy skills in each subject.

There was also a need to make better use of assessment and marking to set targets for improving standards even further.

The school was last inspected in May 1996 when the head teacher was Hazel McLellan, since when it has had two head teachers - Pat Wheeler and the current head Ivan Smith.

Despite this, the report said, the school has managed to rectify weaknesses.

A new classroom has been built, freeing the hall for use by all pupils; the design and technology area is now fully utilised; the library has improved; and a staff room created.

Staff have also had training in teaching information technology.

Mr Smith said: "As the relatively new head teacher I am pleased that the school has maintained its very good status from the previous inspection and that areas receiving special attention from then have now been listed among the strengths of the school.

"I am particularly encouraged by the high ratings the teaching received in the report and everyone who works here should be proud of their achievements.

"The highlighted areas for further development fall comfortably within our recently established whole school development plan where we have already identified our priorities for the future progress of the school."