Two years ago, Yarnfield Primary School was failing.

Overwhelmed by staffing difficulties and the stresses and strains of building work, the Tyseley school was deemed “inadequate” in a damning Ofsted report.

The Government watchdog put the school into special measures in May 2009 amid concerns it was failing to give pupils an acceptable standard of education.

A series of monitoring visits followed over the next 18 months at the 660-pupil school, where more than 30 languages are spoken.

Ofsted has now decided to take the school out of special measures a term early, thanks to the “dogged determination” of new head Matthew Wynne and staff.

“The sense of relief in the staff room was enormous,” said Mr Wynne, who took over in January after former head Sue Dixon retired.

“We had a monitoring visit in March, and were told that it was going to be turned into a full inspection, so we had a feeling it would be good news.

“It was our goal to come out of special measures a term early, and we achieved that.”

Inspectors have now upped the school’s rating from “inadequate” to “satisfactory” following the two-day inspection, noting that the school has now reached a period of “stability and growth”.

Ofsted’s vote of confidence is a far cry from the 2009 inspection, which noted the school had been “overwhelmed” by staffing and building difficulties.

“Staff morale had been very up and down before,” added Mr Wynne, who also guided his former school, Yardley Wood Community Primary School, out of special measures in March last year.

“Like any school in special measures, morale depended on the outcome of monitory visits.

“There was also quite a large movement of staff, so we needed to focus on areas of development and think more collaboratively.”

And the teamwork seems to have paid off, with inspectors praising teaching improvements at Yarnfield, where the proportion of schools on free school meals is well above the national average.

The report read: “The quality of teaching has improved significantly in recent months and is now good, although this has not yet made an impact on test results as some classes are still catching up.

“Even so, since the last inspection achievement is more consistent throughout the school.

“These improvements have come about through the dogged determination and high expectations of leaders and managers at all levels.”

Pupil attendance has also been singled out for praise, with attendance figures topping 95 per cent – above the national average – in the first part of 2011.

Mr Wynne said his working day begins at the school gate, greeting parents and pupils filing in for their morning lessons.

He said: “I’m make sure I’m at the gate every morning to say good morning to the children and parents, so that I become part of the community. I even dragged the inspector down one morning, saying ‘I do this every day, whether you’re here or not’.”

The school will face a further Ofsted visit in 18 months’ time, and Mr Wynne added he wanted to see the school move towards a “good”, and eventually, “outstanding” rating.

He said: “I’m a great believer in people owning what is happening in the school.

It’s about staff working to make their own improvements, rather than being pushed by someone else from the outside.

He added: “I have a picture of my sons in my office and I wouldn’t offer a standard of education at the school that I wouldn’t be happy with for them.”