PUPILS and staff at Old Cleeve School in Washford are celebrating receiving the highest possible grading in their latest Ofsted report.

The school has been graded as Outstanding and commended for having excellent governance.

The report praised pupils’ outstanding behaviour and said the school offers an ‘outstanding curriculum’ and a ‘caring environment’.

The school is part of the Quantock Federation with Danesfield CofE School and St Peter’s CofE First School.

Ian Bradbury, executive headteacher of the Quantock Federation, said: “I am delighted that the hard work and commitment of all our staff has been recognised.”

The inspection included observing lessons and handing out questionnaires to get the opinions of parents and carers.

The Ofsted inspection focused on the quality of teaching, leadership and the progress pupils make at the school.

The report, compiled by Grahame Sherfield, said: “Old Cleeve has improved significantly and is now an outstanding school.”

He highlighted room for improvement in providing opportunities for pupils to develop a better understanding of Britain as a multicultural society.

Mr Sherfield added: “Pupils have a factual knowledge of other cultures and faiths but limited opportunities to develop a real understanding of these in the context of other parts of Britain.”

The report said the pupils’ attainment in English and Mathematics by the time they move to middle school is above average.

The teaching across the school was said to be good with an increasing proportion achieving outstanding levels.

The school’s community links were commended for being very strong and pupils’ understanding of the importance of diet and exercise in a healthy lifestyle was noted as very good.