A PRIMARY school that is trying to battle its way back from a damming inspection has been taken over.

Caldew Lea School in Carlisle was rated as inadequate by Ofsted inspectors last year which sparked Cumbria Education Trust (CET) to take control.

Experienced headteacher Ayesha Weston took over the school at the start of the school year in preparation for the move - while the trust has also worked on physical improvements to classrooms.

Miss Weston, former headteacher of Crosby-on-Eden CE Primary School is delighted to be in charge of the school she trained to be a teacher at.

She said: " The school is my community school, it's always had a special place in my heart.

"Having worked in education and seen the troubles it was heart wrenching. I had no plans to leave Crosby-on-Eden by I followed my heart.

"I believe these children deserve the very best, they are so warm and open and without education that is less likely to happen.

"They have so much potential."

Work has been done to make the building look better and creating a fresh environment for the children to return to.

Funds were provided jointly by CET, Cumbria County Council and central government. Further work will be carried out in the October half-term and there are plans to improve the school’s ICT capability.

"It creates an atmosphere that the children are valued," added Miss Weston.

"The vast majority of the children are caring and bright and the children have really bought into this - the staff have been really positive too.

"The next thing is to get the right professional development, getting the curriculum development right means the children can get what they want."

Last June, the school was rated inadequate in two out of the five key inspection areas - effectiveness of leadership and management, and personal development, behaviour and welfare of pupils.

Executives at CET believe their greater scale and resources can drive up standards in schools, with both Yewdale in Carlisle and Longtown - each part of the trust - moving from ‘inadequate’ to ‘good’ in their most recent inspections.

Miss Weston continued: "Having worked in a less affluent area this allowed me to flourish and my goal here is for these children to flourish and be able to take on the world.

"This school used to be the first choice school in the area.

"It's got so much going for it and the children deserve the very best.

"It's really exciting times.

"The parents have been really supportive and we owe a lot to them.

"It's about rebuilding their trust and about repaying the favour to them."

Chris Wilkins, CET’s new director of primary education, said: "We are delighted to welcome Caldew Lea School into our family of school, it's a school with a great heritage and we are looking forward to making it the amazing school that it has been and that it will be again."