A school was today celebrating a glowing Ofsted report based on an inspection just days after a major refurbishment.

Merrylands Primary School in Laindon was praised by education officers for providing pupils with a sound education in a "secure and supportive learning environment".

The recently amalgamated school in Cumberland Drive, which saw roofing and other building work finished just before the inspection, was also applauded for its strong working partnership with parents.

The report said parents were most pleased that the school is managed well and teaching is good. It also said overall pupil progress was good, very good or excellent in more than half of 102 inspected lessons.

Headteacher Corin Whymark said: "The report is a credit to the staff and pupils of the school. I am very pleased that the inspectors have recognised that Merrylands is a caring school where pupils are working hard and achieving good standards of school work and behaviour."

Published Thursday, May 22, 2003

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