A drive to raise standards has helped an Ipswich school impress the government’s independent inspectors.

Ipswich Star: Halifax Primary Head teacher Anna Hennell James and her pupils Carly and Freddie celebrate their Good Ofsted rating.Halifax Primary Head teacher Anna Hennell James and her pupils Carly and Freddie celebrate their Good Ofsted rating.

Having previously been deemed to ‘require improvement’, Halifax Primary has now scored a ‘good’ rating in each of the five Ofsted categories following an inspection last month.

The organisation praised the “rapid improvement in key areas of the school’s work” and the strong governance of the school.

Headteacher Anne Hennell James said pushing for continuing development was key to the new grade.

“There’s no let up, there cannot be – there is a constant drive for improvement,” she said.

When asked how the school moved up the rankings, she said: “It’s been around good and outstanding teaching, you always hear that but increasingly it’s about coaching of staff to make them even more outstanding.

“There has been a real drive to raise standards, particularly a focus on closing the gap for disadvantaged children and raising aspirations for children.”

The school’s pupils also received plaudits from the inspectors, who said they were “polite, respectful and keen to learn”.