A new term at St Michael’s Primary School sees four fresh faces in the teaching staff, as the school continues to build itself a better future.

Monday last week did not only mark the first day of school for 60 reception pupils at the Helston primary, but also for new teachers Suzanne Bray, Joanne Le Good, Laura Roadley and David Rayner.

Taking over year one classes are Suzanne, who last worked at Pensans Community Primary in Penzance but lives on the Lizard Peninsula, and Joanne, who was previously at Probus Community Primary.

Laura Roadley has relocated from Derbyshire to take over one of the year two classes, while David Rayner, who was previously of Kehelland Village School in Camborne, will be teaching year four pupils.

Headteacher Shaun Perfect welcomed their appointments, saying it was an exciting time for the school.

He said: “We are delighted with these appointments. They are all high quality teachers who will bring new energy and drive to the ongoing improvement work at St Michael’s.”

Mr Perfect said the school carried out a “really thorough” recruitment process, with all candidates having to teach lessons under observation.

Ofsted inspectors last visited the school in July, after it was placed in special measures in May 2012, and the result was “really very positive,” said Mr Perfect.

Progress since the last monitoring inspection was described as “good”, with inspector Robert Pyner writing: “The developing leadership role for subject and aspect leaders is having a clear impact on the quality of teaching and the progress and attainment of pupils.”

There was a “clear narrowing of the gap in achievement” between boys and girls, although girls were still stronger in reading and writing. Teaching also continued to improve, with activities to stretch all pupils and in particular the more able ones.

The school is awaiting another monitoring visit this autumn, with the intention that it will be the final one. If this is the case, it will trigger the school coming out of special measures and such fierce scrutiny from Ofsted.

It is set to be an important term for the school as it prepares to become a sponsored academy, most likely by Christmas. This means it will have great interaction with other church schools in the area, in addition to its membership of the co-operative trust involving Helston schools.