PUPILS and staff at a village primary school near York are celebrating an "outstanding" Ofsted report.

Inspectors visited Appleton Roebuck Primary School in December and found that in 25 out of the possible 26 areas scrutinised, the school scored the top grade of "outstanding".

The school, which has 95 pupils on roll, has been described by chief inspector Lesley Clark as providing pupils an "outstanding education" and is a school of which parents and pupils are justly proud.

Appleton Roebuck primary is a small village school serving the village and the surrounding rural area to the west of York. It is a popular school and has grown considerably in size in the last five years.

The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities is broadly average and the number with a statement of special educational need is above average. The head teacher, Derek Angood, spent three months in Namibia last term and the school was managed by the teaching staff in his absence.

Mrs Clarke said: "The school gives you an outstanding education and pupils are right to be so proud of it. The teachers and other adults take exceptionally good care of pupils, helping them to learn and to turn into mature young people whom stand up for what they believe.

"I was impressed at how much responsibility older children have for looking after younger ones and I think they set an excellent example to little ones. I could see and hear how much pupils enjoyed their lessons.

"The school has a very happy feel to it because everyone gets on so well together. Pupil behaviour is outstanding and attendance much higher than in most schools."

The one area where the school did not get the outstanding mark was for curriculum and other activities where they were awarded a grade: 2 - or good.

Inspectors found the school makes outstanding provision for literacy, numeracy, science and ICT, but currently misses opportunities to make connections between subjects.

While this does not have a negative impact on pupils' academic achievements it does mean that some of what they study is unduly narrow.

Mr Angood said: "We're absolutely delighted with the report and it's nice to have an objective view of the work we put in.

"It's a combination of hard-working teachers, supportive parents and lots of committed pupils - that's the recipe for success. Education is a three-way process and it's only when all three work together that these results are possible."


What the school does well

The school gives pupils an outstanding education.

Pupils thoroughly enjoy all that the school has to offer and are extremely enthusiastic about learning. This shows in their exceptionally good attendance and exemplary behaviour.

Pupils agree that the very best things about their school are friends and the many different sports'. Parents think highly of the school, commenting on the lovely family atmosphere where older children willingly look out for the interests of the younger ones'.

What the school could do to improve

Plan better connections between subjects so as to enrich pupils' learning.