OLD Cleeve First School in Washford has improved significantly and is now an outstanding school, boasting an outstanding curriculum, an exceptionally caring environment for pupils and above average results in English and maths.

Government Ofsted inspector Grahame Sherfield said, despite the already high standards, the school had an outstanding capacity for further improvement and praised the strong leadership and good teaching.

In the school's latest Ofsted report he said: "Children make good progress in the early years foundation stage and this is maintained in years one and two.

"Progress by the end of years four is good and improving. Inspection evidence and the school's data show that attainment is above average in English and mathematics by the time pupils move to the middle school.

"The accelerating progress is the result of careful checking by staff to eliminate underachievement and the school's success in improving teaching."

He said an increasing proportion of teaching was now outstanding and said "real excitement" was created by teachers' enthusiasm and expertise.

However, pupils were not yet making exceptional progress and the excellent teaching had yet to be embedded across the whole school.

He noted that staff from Williton's Danesfield Middle School were able to offer additional subject expertise as a result of the Quantock Federation between Old Cleeve, Danesfield and St Peter's First School in Williton.

Mr Sherfield said the Danesfield staff had a firm grasp of strengths and areas in need of improvement and were effective in helping Old Cleeve to benefit from their experience.

There was also praise for the governors led by chairman Peter Rowe and executive headteacher Ian Bradbury.

"The strong leadership of the executive and associate headteachers has established a widely shared commitment to continuous improvement.

"Self-evaluation is accurate, with clear and appropriate priorities for future action.

"Governance is excellent. Pupils' progress is improving strongly and challenging targets are used well to raise standards in English and mathematics by the end of year four," Mr Sherfield said.

He said a key strength of the school was the careful tracking of each pupils' individual progress, while data proved there was an improving trend in attainment in reading, writing and mathematics in year two.

"Pupils get on extremely well with each other and with the staff. They sustain their concentration very effectively in lessons, often settling to work without the need for any adult direction.

"With their above average attainment in literacy and numeracy they are equipped well for the next stage in their education and their future economic well-being," Mr Sherfield said.

He said the school should press ahead with its drive to improve the quality of all teaching to the best possible level and provide opportunities for pupils to develop a better understanding of Britain as a multicultural society.

But he found lessons were well planned and activities were carefully designed to build on learning and to meet the varying needs of pupils.

He said: "Although is is not consistent in all lessons, teachers often ask good questions to check pupils' understanding and invite them to share their thinking so that they can learn from each other.

"Teaching assistants make a good contribution in supporting pupils' learning.

"Marking of work is good and provides a clear indication of how well pupils have addressed the objectives underpinning their work and how work might be improved."

He said the school had a "powerful commitment" to bring learning to life through memorable experiences and pupils benefited from the specialist expertise offered through the federation.

Mr Sherfield found the school to be inclusive and welcoming, pupils polite and well behaved and a range of excellent partnerships in place with external organisations to extend opportunities for pupils.

Learning was good in the early years foundation stage, with the children being happy and well cared for in a stimulating environment.

He praised the strong nursery and reception team and said parents were happy with their children's experiences at the school.

Mr Sherfield concluded: "Senior leaders have highly effective systems for monitoring and evaluating the school's work within the arrangement made across the federation.

"The ambition for the continuing improvement of the school is widely shared and staff morale is high.

"The governing body makes a strong contribution to the strategic direction of the school and very effectively holds its leadership to account for the standards achieved."

Executive headteacher Mr Bradbury said: "I am delighted that the hard work and commitment of all our staff has been recognised especially the colleagues at Old Cleeve and St Peter's [see separate St Peter's Ofsted report]."

Nicky Darby, associate headteacher of the federation, said the opportunities provided by specialist teaching had enhanced the learning experience for all children, particularly the use of Danesfield's dance/drama studio.

Photo: Steve Guscott