A COUNCIL chief has praised staff and pupils of three High Wycombe primary schools after they received “good” reports from Ofsted.

Kings Wood and Hannah Ball Primary Schools received the “good” ranking following visits from inspectors.

It follows hot on the heels of Ash Hill Primary School, which received the same grade, as all three make the step up from a “satisfactory” score.

Ofsted said Kings Wood’s teaching had improved, assistants are ‘caring and effective’, pupils enjoyed attending the school and praised the work of the headteacher and governors in leading the school’s improvement.

Headteacher Janice Freeman said: "Everyone at the school is delighted that all the hard work and commitment of both staff and pupils has been recognised.

“The progress the school has made has been a team effort with governors and staff working together to successfully move the school forward.”

Ofsted said the behaviour of Hannah Ball pupils is “outstanding” and they all make good progress from different starting points.

Inspectors said teaching is “consistently good” and the rapid improvement in teaching and the pupils’ achievements is down to the school’s management and governors.

Headteacher Maggie Moore said: "Ofsted noted that leaders and managers had been successful in moving teaching to good and accelerating pupil’s progress so that the gap in attainment with the national average is closing rapidly.

“We have managed to close the gap in achievement for pupils who attract pupil premium and this has enabled them to do better than other pupils in the school. We are thrilled to bits.”

As the BFP reported last month, Ofsted said the teaching levels at Ash Hill have “systematically improved” and pupils make good progress in reading, writing and maths.

Cllr Mike Appleyard, Buckinghamshire's Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: "We have a lot to be proud of with the pupils and staff having put in so much hard work to turn the fortunes of these schools around.

“I am very pleased that this work has now been recognised in their latest Ofsted reports. I would like to congratulate staff, governors and pupils for their hard work and service."