A government inspector has welcomed "massive improvements" at a multi-racial east Oxford school.

The inspector from the education watchdog Ofsted said Larkrise First School, in Boundary Brook Road, had seen huge improvements in quality of teaching and pupils' performance since its last inspection in 1998.

At the 222-pupil school, almost half the pupils come from ethnic minority families and a third do not speak English as a first language.

About 39 per cent of children have special educational needs, well above the national average of 20 per cent, and the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals has grown from 20 to 40 per cent in the past three years.

Inspector David Owen said: "Larkrise is very well led, and the headteacher, governors and staff are thoroughly committed to improvement.

"The teaching is good and the pupils learn well. The school has put a great deal of effort into raising standards in literacy and numeracy.

"Improvements in performance are underpinned by a massive improvement in the quality of teaching."

He also praised the school for its special needs support, and added: "Pupils show a very strong respect for the values and beliefs of others. The achievement of those with English as an additional language is very good."

But he called for further improvements in English and maths, and more opportunities for independent learning.

Headteacher Mark Chesterton said: "I am very proud of the staff. They work so hard to make Larkrise a very special place. I would like to thank all of them for the efforts they made before and during the inspection."

Governors' chairman Helen Osborn said: "The Ofsted report comes at an excellent time for planning for the future, as Larkrise prepares to become a primary school in 2003."