Mike Tomlinson, the new chief inspector of schools, made Dollis Junior School in Mill Hill his first stop in the country since taking up the post last month.

Mr Tomlinson, who succeeded the controversial Chris Woodhead six weeks ago, spoke to pupils and staff during the informal visit on Friday.

He then made a whistle-stop journey around the school in Pursley Road with governors and headteacher Derek Heasman.

Mr Tomlinson was greeted by calypso music courtesy of the school steel band and during a light-hearted assembly he joined in with a hymn before being interrogated by pupils about his new position.

Speaking to the Times Group, Mr Tomlinson said he would be stamping his own personality on the job.

"My approach is obviously in a sense related to my character. I do want to try and find ways of getting through to everyone just how much good work is going on in our schools and the many improvements that have been made over recent years.

"That doesn't mean there are no things that can be improved.

Teachers themselves are the first to say what needs to be improved there is no complacency and we must guard against that."

He defended Ofsted, the much-criticised method of assessing school performance:

"I do believe Ofsted works. I think that the system of inspection has enabled us to know what is working well and it has also identified the things that need improving."

Earlier this month, South African teachers were flown in to help head off a teaching crisis at Christ Church School in North Finchley.

And Mr Tomlinson said giving teaching a positive profile was the way to reverse dwindling numbers of recruits.

"It is important that we encourage teachers to remain by the way we conduct our business of inspection and that teachers who are thinking about coming into the profession are not dissuaded by the work of Ofsted."

And he had nothing but praise for what he saw at Dollis Junior School: "Wherever you go there is something really interesting that prompts you to want to stop and look or read."