It was all smiles at a primary school after its first Ofsted inspection since the departure of a controversial head teacher.

Whitehill Primary School in Gravesend has been given a rating of good in a report released last week, with special praise for the leadership of new head Malcolm Moaby.

He replaced Jane Porter, who left in 2015 after a string of controversies, including tests being scrapped due to “maladministration” in 2014, and banning pupils from talking about Christmas before December in 2013.

Mrs Porter was the subject of a two-week disciplinary hearing at a conduct panel last month, during which time Ofsted inspector Margaret Coussins was visiting Whitehill. The report, published on Friday, saw Mrs Porter banned from teaching.

Mrs Coussins’ report praised Mr Moaby for leading the school “through a period of considerable change” with strong leadership, and said pupils were learning in a happy, safe and calm atmosphere.

It continued: “They behave well, enjoy learning and want to do well. Parents and pupils agreed that the school is, as its motto states, ‘Happy, helpful and hardworking’.

“Leaders have correctly focused on raising achievement in reading, writing and mathematics.

“Pupils are now making better than expected progress in these areas and you are working to ensure that similar gains are made in a range of other subjects.”

The safety of pupils was also highlighted as a strength, as were improvements made to the standards of teaching in nursery and reception classes.

Children were said to enjoy reading, speaking “with great enthusiasm about the books and authors that their teachers have introduced to them”.

Whitehill also received a good rating after its last inspection in 2013, but there was an acknowledgement that standards had declined since then until Mrs Porter’s departure.

“The success of your work in reversing the decline in standards means that the school remains good,” the report states.

“Your plans for further improvement are ambitious, clear and appropriate.”

“I am fortunate to have an incredibly dedicated staff who have worked tirelessly to secure the best outcomes for our children" Malcolm Moaby

The report said Whitehill’s continued success would be assured by the teachers’ high expectations, challenging children appropriately, and making progress across subjects.

It also encouraged the school to maintain a rapid pace of development for those pupils who had been left behind by “a legacy of underachievement”.

Mr Moaby, who was associate head teacher at Gravesend Grammar School before taking over from Mrs Porter, said the report gave him confidence to move ahead with further improvements at the school.

“?Everyone connected to Whitehill Primary School are absolutely delighted that Ofsted recognise that this is a good school,” he said.

“I am fortunate to have an incredibly dedicated staff who have worked tirelessly to secure the best outcomes for our children. Parents at the school have been very supportive of what we are building here and it gives us confidence to forge ahead with further improvements.

“I am particularly pleased that Ofsted highlighted the progress we are making in Early Years education and the importance that we give to reading.”