SWANMEAD School received the perfect present ahead of the summer holidays – a ‘good’ rating from OFSTED.

The school was visited at the start of July and inspectors judged achievement, quality of teaching, behaviour and safety, and leadership and management as good across the board.

The inspectors recognised a number of strengths, including pupils making good progress over their time at the school, improved teaching and learning and good leadership and management that has enabled the school to improve.

Head teacher Mark Walker said: “We are delighted with both the positivity and accuracy of this report. I congratulate the entire school community on their success in securing a good grading and in allowing our team from Ofsted to see the excellent improvements we have made over recent years.

“I would like to thank all our parents and members of the community for their outstanding support of me and all members of my staffing team.

“The faith and backing we’ve received over the last few years has been instrumental in taking us to where we have got to in such a short period of time.”

The school was last inspected in September 2012 where, despite making many improvements, it was judged as requiring improvement and given four years to get to ‘good’, which it has achieved in less than half that time.

Mr Walker and the governors say they will not be resting on their laurels and will continue to raise standards and achievements throughout the school when they start up again in September.

He added: “We will not be dropping down gears again that’s for sure.”

The report sees the school graded in the ‘good’ category for the first time in almost ten years.

In his report, lead inspector John Mallone said: “Teaching is good, teachers know their pupils well, have good subject knowledge and mark work well.

“Pupils make good progress and make strong gains in reading, writing and mathematics.

“The head teacher and other leaders have put in place well thought out plans which have led to strong improvements in pupils’ progress since the previous inspection.

“Governors are effective in the way they challenge the school and keep strict control of the finances.”