A “little gem” of a school is continuing to deliver a good standard of education following a change in leadership.

Inspectors from Ofsted are impressed at the impact Julia Dalgleish has made at Lees Hill School, near Brampton, since she took over in September.

She is in place for a year after the resignation of Jill Simpson, who is now at Yewdale School in Carlisle.

Governors’ plans to appoint a substantive heateacher “are well advanced”, inspector Pippa Jackson Maitland has recorded.

The inspector said of Mrs Dalgleish: “In the short time you have been in post you have won the trust and support of governors, staff, pupils and parents.

“Governors have a more visible presence around school, the quality of teaching is improving, pupils are happier and parents are unanimous in their confidence in you. You have effectively steered the school through a period of change and have built on its strengths.”

Governors, according to the inspector, are also “grasping the nettle” and increasing their efforts to ensure the school’s long-term future.

It currently has 34 pupils and the inspector notes that governors “know the importance of securing the future of the school through increasing pupil numbers”.

The inspector said: “They are sensibly taking advice from a school which successfully overcame similar challenges. Governors are resolute in their determination that Lees Hill will serve its community for many years to come.”

Pupils, praised for being “polite and courteous”, describe Lees Hill as “one big family” while a parent says the school is “a little gem”, the inspector was told.

A statement on the school’s latest newsletter, about the Ofsted, reads: “Lees Hill Church of England is a ‘good’ school based on a strong mutual desire, held by children, parents, staff, governors and local community, to provide our children with a happy and successful learning environment.”

The school is awaiting the outcome of its recent church SIAMS inspection.