STAFF and pupils at a primary school near Ilminster received an early Christmas present when they found out OFSTED inspectors had rated the school ‘good’.

Darren Troake, acting head teacher at St Mary and St Peter’s in Barrington and Ilton, is delighted.

He said: “The report confirms the excellent work that pupils and staff are doing here at our school. In particular, we are pleased with the acknowledgement of the children’s behaviour and their progress.

“We were also pleased with the recognition of the continuing improvements we are making, how well we know our children and the positive relationships that exist throughout the school. The report is a tribute to everybody involved in our school.”

In their report on last month’s inspection, inspectors said pupils achieve well because of good teaching and, in lessons, teachers encourage pupils to do their best and behave well.

They added: “A key feature of the good teaching in the school is the detailed and effective planning that arises from the in-depth knowledge staff have of every pupil.

"The relationships across the school are strong, pupils have a lot of respect and care for each other and the relationships with staff are very positive.”

To improve further, to become an ‘outstanding’ school, OFSTED says classroom work must be hard enough to challenge all pupils’ individual needs and marking should show pupils how to improve their work.