The children, staff and governors at Horsley School, near Nailsworth, Stroud, Gloucestershire, have been highly praised in the newly published Ofsted report.

The children, staff and governors at Horsley School have been highly praised in the newly published Ofsted report.

Lead inspector Martin Kerly judged Horsley to be a good school with some outstanding features.

Headteacher Martin Fry and pupils celebrate the school's success.
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Proud Mr Fry.
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Grace Fuller-Watts and Kira Wait, right, doing some painting. Below, left to right, Edwin Forester, Natasha Butt, Alec Barton, Megan Stuart with their art work based on Turner.

He said that pupils attain standards well above average, with the large majority of pupils exceeding age-related expectations.

He attributed the good progress to the "good teaching and the individual attention given to each pupil".

He said that "teachers plan carefully and inspire pupils with the wide range of stimulating and exciting activities".

Mr Kerly's positive view of the school was endorsed by many of the parents, who responded to the Ofsted survey with comments such as "We feel fortunate that our child can go to such an enriching and creative school". Others wrote of each child being "cherished as an individual" and of their children "being inspired by Horsley School".

Every grade given in the report was either 'good' or 'outstanding'. Well above the 'pass' mark of 'satisfactory'. The many areas marked 'outstanding (exceptionally and consistently high)' by the Ofsted report are:

■ The standards reached by the children.

■ The way the school works in partnership with others to promote the children's well-being

■ The extent to which the children adopt healthy lifestyles

■ The extent to which the children adopt safe practices

■ The children's positive contribution to the community

■ How well the children develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being

■ How well the children are cared for, guided and supported

Headteacher Martin Fry was thrilled by the glowing report and sees it as a testament to all the hard work put in by the children, staff, governors and parents.

The only areas the report suggested could be improved are associated with studying in a school building which has been constructed over the past 200 years. They suggested improvements to the accommodation, which, as the report says: 'Governors are fully aware and are engaged on a long-term plan to address them".

Parent governor Angel Azcona said: "I feel that this great report is a fair reflection of a normal week at Horsley School. I'm chuffed to bits that my kids go there."