A 113-YEAR-OLD school which looked doomed 18 months ago has transformed its fortunes thanks to the "outstanding efforts" of the community.

Dorset Road Infant School, Mottingham, was set to close before it was given a reprieve by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA) in February last year.

Since then it has not looked back and thanks to a major refurbishment and record exam results, the school is on a high.

The school, which has space for just 55 pupils, caters for children aged between five and seven.

Fears of closure had hung over it for several years, as it failed to meet targets on admissions.

But last year the OSA, the Government-appointed appeals board, ruled it should stay open after a campaign backed by hundreds of members of the community.

Headteacher Liz Keable says this community spirit has been vital to the school's recent success.

She said: "The community is integral to our school and it has had an outstanding impact.

"We encourage the children to get out of the classroom and into the community and it is important they see the contribution older people can make to society."

This community work has seen pupils brighten up the area by planting colourful bulbs and decorating a Christmas tree outside Mottingham Methodist Church.

In the classroom pupils are celebrating record attainments, with all seven-year-olds achieving the national Key Stage Two standard in maths.

The children are also being taught in newly-refurbished classrooms after a £125,000 makeover.

Even the admissions problems have gone away for the first time since it was threatened with closure, there is a waiting list to get into the school.

Mrs Keable added: "Schools such as ours provide more choice for parents and a smoother transition for children from nursery into school life.

"Last year was hard but now we have put it all behind us. We couldn't have done it without the support of the community."