A SCHOOL once on the brink of closure and branded as failing has passed its latest inspection with flying colours.
Nythe Primary parents and staff have beaten two attempts by Swindon Council to close the school due to falling rolls, and there have been three heads in 18 months.
A damning Ofsted inspection in June last year said the school had serious weaknesses.
But now new headteacher Debbie Kalynka is celebrating after the latest inspection in June said the school is improving rapidly.
Last year's Ofsted report said the school was "not as effective as it could be," and "providing unsatisfactory value for money". It also said pupils were not making the progress they should.
But the latest report was full of praise for the school, saying children had "benefited greatly from the good quality teaching and individual attention they have received" and that the new headteacher was having a positive effect, despite having been in the job for three months.
Mrs Kalynka said: "The Ofsted check-up was one of the first things I had to deal with as headteacher, and while it wasn't a full inspection it was still important for the school.
"Since I've come here I've been amazed by the children, they are all wonderful and so much fun. I don't think I've told anyone off yet and we've been back a week.
"The problem at the school has been instability. But now there are young families moving back into the area and the roll is stabilising, the future should be secure."
One of the first changes Mrs Kalynka introduced was a new uniform, with pupils and parents helping choose the purple jumpers and black fleeces for older children. The children helped design a new school badge by entering a competition.
The good news proves the school is now recovering after the council tried to close it in 1998 and again last year, blaming falling pupil numbers. On both occasions, parents battled to keep it open.
In May last year, former head Jan Chapple retired due to ill health. Acting head Creighton Muirhead took over on a year's loan from Ruskin Junior School, and Mrs Kalynka took over last term.
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