In 2006, Rodbourne Cheney Primary School was given a notice to improve by Ofsted, but fast forward four years and inspectors have judged it as outstanding.

Staff, pupils and governors at the school are celebrating the achievement and the rapid rate of development recognised by the government inspectors.

The school, which linked with Moredon Primary and Nursery School and Nyland Special School just months before its inspection in January 2007, was later judged as ‘satisfactory’ in 2008.

Headteacher Lauren Connor, who was described as ‘inspirational’ in the report, said: “It’s the whole team that have done it, it’s never just about one person but everybody.

“Everybody has worked really hard, we come in every day and do the very best we can, the teaching, curriculum and planning is fab at the school.

“The report is incredibly complimentary of the way we promote learning as a lifelong skill, it talks about how we give children memorable experiences.

“I am really proud of the children and staff, it is a great celebration of four years of hard work and dedication.

“The children fully understand and they are very proud of their school.

“They kept saying to the inspectors ‘our school is the best in the country’ and they were really showing off, even using the word ‘outstanding’ to describe it.

“Back in 2006, we were basically told we needed to improve everything, but the inspectors had no doubt that the school would go from stage to stage constantly improving.

“The school just welcomes you and ropes you in. It is like a very traditional village school, everybody knows each other and everybody cares for each other. We are the heart of the community.”

Pupils were praised for their outstanding achievement and enthusiasm in lessons, while Fabulous Friday and Thrilling Thursday sessions, where parents and carers learn with their children, were used as good examples of the relationships the school has.

Reporting inspector Lorna Brackstone said: “Four years on from being a school requiring significant improvement with standards that were significantly below national averages, it has achieved a very rapid rate of development, and current standards are well above average.

“The key to the success of this outstanding school is the way it promotes learning as a lifelong skill and ensures that all pupils are extremely well prepared for the next stage of their learning.”

The school is now developing smarter systems to enable wider analysis of how teaching may be improved and is also bringing in ways of supporting middle managers to develop their strategic role in the future leadership of the school.