TWO primary schools formed following a review of education in Stevenage 18 months ago have been given the thumbs-up in an inspection. Longmeadow Primary School was set up in September 2005 after the amalgamation of Longmeadow Infants and Nursery School wi

TWO primary schools formed following a review of education in Stevenage 18 months ago have been given the thumbs-up in an inspection.

Longmeadow Primary School was set up in September 2005 after the amalgamation of Longmeadow Infants and Nursery School with Longmeadow Junior School.

Shephalbury Park Primary School was formed from the amalgamation of Shephall Green Infants and Nursery School with Burydale Junior School.

Both schools, which are now part of the Shephalbury Meadow Federation, were inspected earlier this year.

Shephalbury Park achieved satisfactory or above in all categories in the inspection, scoring a "good" grading in personal development and well-being.

Inspector Derek Watts said: "Shepalbury Park's overall effectiveness is satisfactory and it gives satisfactory value for money.

"Pupils' personal development is good and their academic achievement is satisfactory.

"The school has been well managed through the process of amalgamation. Parents hold positive views about the school and give it good support."

In his letter to pupils following the inspection, Mr Watts said strengths of the school included a positive and welcoming atmosphere, good facilities for ICT, and staff who know their pupils well and give good care and support.

Mr Watts said things the school needed to work on included raising achievement and standards, particularly in English for boys, and strengthening the use of target setting and the marking of pupils' work in order to increase pupils' progress.

Longmeadow Primary School also did not score below a "satisfactory" level, and notched up "good" grades in personal development and well-being, and in care, guidance and support.

Inspector Michael Milton said: "Longmeadow provides a satisfactory education.

"It is an improving school with some good features and clear areas for improvement.

"The headteacher provides good leadership and has achieved much in just over four terms to create a common ethos and to introduce many improvements which are starting to raise standards."

In his post-inspection letter to pupils, Mr Milton praised the students' behaviour, and said that teaching is "at least satisfactory" and some lessons are "really good".

He also praised the opportunities for art, PE and music.

Areas the school needs to work on include improving teaching so it is consistently good throughout the school and devising a curriculum that provides each class with creative learning activities.

John Gardner, who is chairman of the federation governors said: "All the areas for improvement identified by the Ofsted teams had been highlighted in our own self evaluation of the two schools and the senior leadership team of the federation along with the governing body have agreed actions in hand as part of the school development plans to address these issues.

"A distinct advantage of the new federation concept is that we have the pooled capacity of our professional staff to work with the principal and governors to rapidly address issues and improve standards.