From David Hutchings, Exeter 382594, July 14, 2008

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A MID Devon primary school is staging a double celebration today after achieving its best ever exam results in the same week education inspectors praised its recent rapid improvements.

Pupils at Copplestone Primary School have achieved huge rises in their SATs results this summer with 100 per cent of the children gaining Level 4 or above in science - that's up from 77 per cent last year.

The English results rose to 96 per cent from 71 per cent last year while maths was up to 83 per cent from 55 per cent.

The results are likely to be well above the national average when the figures are released later this year.

At the same time the school standards agency Ofsted released an inspection report following a visit to the Devon County Council school earlier this month - just a year after Stuart Busby took over as the new head.

Ofsted inspector Jonathan Palk said an earlier inspection in May 2007 had called for the school to improve its teaching and learning and the quality of provision in the Foundation Stage.

Mr Palk concluded: "The school is making good progress in addressing these issues and in raising the pupils' achievement.

"Most pupils are making good progress and standards in Year 6 are now well above average."

Mr Palk says a thoughtful programme of training for teachers and teaching assistants has significantly strengthened the school's expertise in teaching English and maths,

"This has further added to the effectiveness of learning by pupils and their overall good progress," he says.

He praises Mr Busby's good leadership and management and his very clear action plan.

"There has been a strong focus on raising expectations and presenting more challenge to pupils," says Mr Palk. "The school has aspirational longer term objectives."

Mr Palk also praises the good progress that has been made in the Foundation Stage and he says the class areas are bright, inviting and well equipped to support independent learning.

"Children are very motivated and highly independent," says Mr Palk, "a measure of the successful teaching and provision."

Today Mr Busby said he was absolutely delighted that the SATs results had borne out Ofsted's conclusion about the good progress the school had made in the past year.

He said: "This report is a glowing endorsement of the strength of our entire school community.

"We are fortunate to have a very dedicated staff here at Copplestone who always give 100% for our pupils. They are very much appreciated by our children, who in return give their best, and our parents, who provide invaluable support."

"We were very focused on what the children needed to do to improve their results," he added.

"But at the same time we wanted them to maintain their enthusiasm and enjoyment for what they were doing and not get worried about the exams.

"We kept the curriculum as broad and varied as possible to maintain their interest and they have rewarded us with achieving the school's best ever results.

"I am also particularly pleased with the positive comments about the Foundation Stage.

"Our teacher, Helen Batten, is a real star and other schools have been coming to Copplestone this year to study what we are doing and hopefully benefit from our good practice."

NOTE TO NEWS EDS: For more information contact Stuart Busby on 01363 84265.

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