A free school founded two years ago by an evangelical Christian group has received a 'good' rating in its first-ever Ofsted inspection. 

The Emmanuel Community School, based at the former site of St Mary's Church of England school in The Drive, Walthamstow, was rated good with outstanding leadership and management after a visit by a inspectors prior to the summer holidays. 

Independent from council control and funded by the Department for Education's free school scheme, headteacher Peter Lewis has described the result as "extremely encouraging". 

He said: "Having opened as a new school in September 2012, our first ever Ofsted report is extremely encouraging.  

"We are delighted that our school has been judged outstanding in some areas and good overall within a short period of time. 

"The positive comments in the report will spur us on as we seek to provide excellent education for our pupils and to be outstanding in all aspects of our work."

Its founder the Emmanuel Christian centre group, based in Erskine Road, Walthamstow, opened the school with just one reception class but has since grown to have a Year 1 class and 54 pupils overall.

In summary, the school, deemed one of the smallest in Waltham Forest, was praised for making good pupil progress, excellent provision of pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and safeguarding of pupils' overall welfare.

To improve further, the inspector recommended staff must ensure children respond to specific feedback and use their learning targets more effectively.