School leaders have been described as ‘exceptional’ in a report on a school which has previously failed to impress inspectors from education watchdog Ofsted.

South Grove Primary in Ringwood Road, Walthamstow has received praise from inspectors who have now graded it as ‘good’ with ‘outstanding’ elements.

In two years the school led by Julie Maltwood has gone from the lower end of the inspection scale at ‘satisfactory’ to being praised for drive, pupil success and ‘high quality’ training.

Lead inspector Justina Ilochi reported that the school with 564 pupils has improved significantly since the last inspection in 2012.

She reported: “The headteacher, deputy headteacher and governors have extremely high expectations of staff and pupils.

"This has led to strong improvements in all aspects of the school’s work since the previous inspection including teaching and achievement.

“Pupils’ social, moral, cultural and spiritual development underpins the exceptional attitudes and behaviour of pupils in their lessons. Pupils are extremely motivated and eager to learn and are unreservedly polite and caring of one another.”

The governing body of the school is described as being ‘robust’ in holding the school to account for performance and finance.

In a report released this week the school was judged as being good in every category but outstanding for management and pupil behaviour.

The school has been told that it is not yet outstanding because the standards in writing are lower than mathematics and children with special educational needs need further encouragement through marking.