OLIVER Tomkins Junior School has been showered with praise for making a difference to the quality of life for pupils.

The Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) have rated the school as outstanding in all areas following an inspection late last month.

Independent from Ofsted, church voluntary aided schools are required to have their SIAMS inspection every five years.

Inspector Mike Graham praised the junior school in various areas but paid a particular commendation to the way staff have instilled a number of Christian values into pupils, impacting on the way they act.

He said: “Oliver Tomkins Junior is a school where every child is nurtured and cherished as an individual, precious in God’s sight. Christian values are the bedrock of all that occurs in and around school. The Christian vision of the headteacher is crystallised in the recently agreed vision statement.

“The transformation of the school over the last few years has been remarkable, notably in the improvement in children’s achievement academically.

“The Christian values, which are demonstrated every day by the whole school family, make a significant and positive impact on the social, moral, spiritual and cultural (SMSC) development of the children. All are made to feel warmly included.

“The work of the church and school together is a great support for the local area spiritually and socially. The two communities combine for worship in smaller groups, there being as yet no worship space large enough for all to gather together as one.

“This is indeed an outstanding Christian school, demonstrating God’s love and making a remarkable difference to the quality of life for every child, and also therefore to the local community.”

The school was given a ‘requiring improvement’ grade by Ofsted in 2012 but continued efforts to improve standards resulted in a ‘good’ rating in all areas in June last year.

Headteacher Rhian Cockwell said: "We are overjoyed and very proud of our recent SIAMS report which has rated the school as Outstanding across all areas.

"It is a privilege to be a headteacher who is part of a team of pupils, staff, parents and governors that have consistently work together and support one another. This has been a further recognition following on from our recent National Award for Achievement for all, of the hard work and as the report states 'exemplary pastoral care given with by the whole staff team that has created an oasis of security within which all children flourish'.”