A SCHOOL named as having serious weaknesses two-and-a-half years ago has performed a stunning turn- around, bagging a glowing Ofsted report and a host of awards.

Kidderminster's Lea Street First School has been praised by inspectors appointed by the government following a three-day visit in March.

They said it had made "very good improvement" since January 2000 thanks to the leadership and management of head Jan Willetts, who was appointed in the same year.

And to cap the comeback the school has also scooped School Achievement Awards, given for improvement in results, worth more than £6,000, in 2001 and 2002. Lea Street First School head Jan Willetts with pupils Holly Garbett, Craig Clee and Abbie Walters.

In addition the University of Wolverhampton named Lea Street First for a good practice award for literacy development, while the school also came third in the Worcestershire Schools Celebrating Worcestershire category of the Community Pride Competition 2002.

Mrs Willetts was praised for "effective leadership" by inspectors who also said management and quality of learning issues had been tackled at the school, which is home to 124 children.

She was also said to have achieved a "remarkable turnaround in management and quality of provision in a short time".

Standards in reading and information and communication technology were found to have improved, while a good sense of teamwork among staff demonstrated "capacity to improve further".

Pupils were given a pat on the back for having good attitudes and being well-behaved. Attendance and relationships between children and staff were found to be good.

Mrs Willetts said the success had been brought around without changing staff.

"There were leadership and teaching issues but this was because no-one had been given specific roles.

"What we did was allocate roles and the improvement came naturally, although there was a lot of hard work.

"What is so nice is that teaching and management are now listed as strengths of the school," she added.

"I'm thrilled for everybody; the staff for all the hard work, the children - because at the end of the day they're why we're here - and the parents, who have always supported us."