AN INDEPENDENT school has been praised by education watchdog Ofsted.

Inspectors said Lords Independent School in Manchester Road, Bolton, provided a good quality of education in a "small and caring family environment where pupils feel safe and happy".

Pupils at the school were found to achieve well above average national standards because of the good quality of teaching.

"The small class sizes ensure that the pupils and their needs are well known and understood. This enables the teacher to direct appropriate support in lessons to enhance and secure pupils learning," reported inspectors. The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development was described as being "good overall".

"The school provides a calm and a harmonious atmosphere where the pupils can develop both academically and personally," said the report.

The behaviour of the schools pupils was also highly commended. It was attributed to "extremely good" relationships between teachers and pupils which are "based on mutual respect".

But assessors found that the school could be further improved by providing outside recreation space for the pupils.

Principal, Zoe Whittle, said: "We were all really pleased with the findings of the report, and I feel that our headteacher, Anne Ainsworth, and all the teaching staff have put in a lot of time and effort in order to get this reward.

"We have been praised for our caring environment and safe atmosphere, and I think thats something that the children have responded to. If theyre enjoying themselves in school, its highly likely that theyll learn a lot more."