Children and staff at Topsham School are celebrating after a successful Ofsted inspection.

The inspectors rated the school as ‘good’ – the same rating as the last inspection in 2006, but under much tougher inspection rules.

The report rates the school as good across five key benchmarks and highlights a number of aspects of its work as outstanding and exceptional.

Inspectors found that the school’s pupils enjoyed their learning and were well behaved, and that the school had developed good partnerships with the local community.

They also described the school’s foundation stage as ‘outstanding’, and said that nearly every parent who had responded to their questionnaire said their child was making good progress.

Reacting to the report, headteacher Claire Browne said: “We were particularly pleased that the inspectors recognised we have maintained our pupils’ good academic progress at the same time as ensuring they have a range of ‘rich and memorable’ experiences.

“The new inspection regime focuses rigorously on academic standards and we are pleased they rated our performance as good in this respect. But it is also important for children to enjoy a wide range of high quality extra-curricular experiences as well.

“The inspectors said we have a good capacity to improve even more in the future and that is a tribute to the whole school community – staff, pupils, parents, governors and the wider town.”