GOVERNMENT inspectors who slated a school two years ago now say its weaknesses have become strengths.

Even Swindon School in Rodbourne now intends to improve even more.

The upbeat verdict from the inspectors has delighted headteacher Michael Keeling.

Mr Keeling was appointed in January of last year, two months after Ofsted said the school had serious weak-nesses a classification close to failure.

Inspectors place great emphasis on basic skills such as reading, writing and arithmetic.

The latest report notes: "This is a school which has improved considerably in recent times.

"It now provides a good education for all the pupils in its care.

"This improvement has been brought about through a common purpose given to the school by the very good leadership of the head teacher and a governing body which has become more effective.

"Improved teaching, making use of effective classroom support, is responsible for pupils' very good behaviour and improved standards in several important areas."

The inspectors add that the pupils' work is now broadly in line with National Curriculum standards a great improve-ment on the situation they found in 1999.

Mr Keeling said the improvement was a joint effort.

He explained: "It is all due to the hard work of the staff, along with careful planning.

"I think people want to work hard they just need to work hard in the right way.

"Everybody has lots of skills, and the important thing is being able to bring that out in people."

At the time of the inspection, Even Swindon had 212 pupils, including 52 part-time ones in the nursery section.

In the latest report, the inspectors express concerns about a few areas of the school's work, such as the need to improve reading standards still further and the need for more Information Technology equipment. But Mr Keeling said steps were being taken to make the necessary advances.