A Hampshire school is celebrating an excellent Ofsted inspection - just three years after it was judged to be failing.

In 2004, inspectors found Netley Marsh CE Infant School, near Totton, was not providing an acceptable standard of education and placed it on special measures.

Monitored This was blamed on staffing changes and meant it was monitored over the following year and then re-inspected, when it was found to be improving.

But the 77-pupil school was again inspected earlier this year and has now been ranked "outstanding" or "good" in all areas.

Head teacher Laura Dickson, who has been at the school since 2004, said: "We are really delighted with the report. It reflects all the hard work the school team has put in."

The school was ranked outstanding for personal development and wellbeing, curriculum and other activities, care and support, and leadership and management.

All other areas - achievement and standards, overall effectiveness and teaching and learning - were classed as good.

The report, by lead inspector Michael Pye, states: "Recover-ing from a very low point in 2004, the school is now providing its pupils with a good standard of education.

"This is a rapidly improving school where standards and achievement are now good.

"Moreover, the personal development and wellbeing of pupils, the curriculum and the care, support and guidance for pupils are all outstanding."

Good teaching He adds: "Upon the current head teacher's appointment, highly relevant priorities were quickly identified.

"Rigorous monitoring and modelling of good teaching contributed to a rise in the quality of lessons and in pupils' achievement.

"The curriculum was rewritten to ensure more progression of pupils' skills and knowledge and effective assessment allows for careful tracking of pupils' progress.

"The outstanding governing body is fully involved in this monitoring and self-evaluation. There is no complacency."