A NEW FOREST school that faces closure next year has been praised for its good teaching by Ofsted inspectors.

Blackfield Infant School is due to amalgamate in Sept-ember 2005 with Blackfield Junior School to create a single primary because of falling birth rates.

Children at the school in Hampton Lane will continue to have lessons in their existing building until alterations are made to the adjoining junior school which will eventually be used by all the pupils.

Inspectors described Blackfield as a "good school" where pupils achieve well and make good progress.

They also highlighted the school's good leadership and management and the well- managed provision for children with special needs.

During their three-day visit to the school they found no significant weaknesses but recommended a number of improvements for extending good teaching methods and ensuring the most able pupils are fully challenged by their tasks.

Head teacher Hazel Ironside, who took over the school three years ago said: "We have a very strong team at Blackfield Infants from staff, governors and parents to the local education authority and community organisations.

"The inspection is a great confidence booster."

Mrs Ironside said she had already put into place measures to extend good teaching practice by introducing brain gyms for youngsters as well as ten-minute aerobics sessions for Year 2 pupils at the beginning of the school day to help them concentrate.

Governors chairman Louise Francis said: "The inspection came at the right time for us. It reaffirms the progress being made and gives us a good foundation for our forthcoming amalgamation with Blackfield Junior School."