YORK’S biggest primary school has broken its record of successive “satisfactory” Ofsted inspections that put it on a Government hit list and is now celebrating a “good” report.

Sir Michael Wilshaw, Ofsted’s chief inspector of schools, named Westfield School in Acomb on an Ofsted list of schools that were “stubbornly satisfactory” after it got the mediocre result in its two previous Ofsted reports.

But now head teacher Tracey Ralph says the school has turned a corner with its new grade of “good”.

Mrs Ralph was appointed head teacher in January 2009 with a clear brief to raise standards of attainment.

In Westfield’s 2011 Ofsted report the school was still judged satisfactory overall, but capacity to improve was graded as good, because Ofsted recognised the rapid pace of school improvement.

Mrs Ralph said she was “absolutely delighted” with the new grading for 2013.

She said: “The effectiveness of the whole leadership team, including governance, has been quite rightly recognised. Effective teamwork is the key to the school’s continued success.

“Sir Michael Wilshaw announced on February 27 increased scrutiny on school governors, and he praised the best governors for focusing on the ‘big issues’, such as ‘the quality of teaching, the progress and achievement of their pupils, and the culture which supports this’.”

Richard Elam, chairman of governors at Westfield, has increased the level of support from the governing body, which has accelerated the school’s progress.

He said: “The governors are delighted with the Ofsted report, which recognises the progress that the school has made to improve standards and provide good-quality teaching.

“This achievement is now the building block for the school to continually improve and give the children in the Westfield Community a great education and start in life.”

Westfield’s 2013 Ofsted report says: “The head teacher’s sustained effort and determination to improve all aspects of the school, coupled with support from other leaders and the governing body, have brought about improved pupil achievement and successfully eradicated weaknesses in teaching.”

Mrs Ralph said: “I am so proud of each and every child, and each and every member of staff, and particularly pleased that teamwork and high morale were acknowledged in the report.

“I’m also pleased that although we have raised standards, the report recognises that we haven’t lost the exceptionally high standards of pastoral care we offer children, which is something that has always been a strength of Westfield Primary School.”