THE latest Ofsted report on Penhill Primary School is a justifiable reason for rejoicing by its governors and its staff.

They have turned round a junior school which in 1998 was judged by the inspectors to be pretty appalling. Today, now that the latest report has placed the combined infants and junior establishment among the best in town, it can hold up its head and look its critics squarely in the eye.

The head and governors were right not to be persuaded to hide the school's shame by changing its name. That would have been a cop out which would have done themselves and the parents and pupils of Penhill huge discredit.

The staff at this school know better than anybody that slumping to the lower rungs in Ofsted's league table is not necessarily a measure of failure. Penhill Primary's improved rating comes at a time when Swindon education department is under new management, and it is unlikely that this is mere coincidence.

We congratulate everybody involved with the school.