A SCHOOL has secured Ofsted's approval after creating a 'caring' culture and encouraging pupils to 'reach for the stars'.

Edith Moorhouse Primary School in Carterton has been upgraded from a previous rating of 'requires improvement' to a new rating of 'good'.

The latest report, released last week following inspection in October, said: "This is a nurturing, caring and friendly school.

"Pupils behave well in lessons, work hard and show a genuine interest in what they are learning.

"Teachers have high expectations of what pupils can achieve."

It had been rated 'requires improvement' since 2015, and staff have worked with determination ever since to improve standards.

This was its first Ofsted since converting into an academy under the River Learning Trust in 2017.

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The report said: "Leaders have a clear vision that underpins the curriculum.

"It is designed to raise the aspirations of all pupils so they ‘can reach for the stars’."

Most schools in Carterton are currently judged to be in the bottom two Ofsted standards.

Earlier this year, Carterton Primary School was rated 'requires improvement', as was nearby Gateway Primary School.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, also in the town, was rated 'inadequate' in January 2018 while Carterton Community College, the last remaining council-run secondary school in the county, was rated 'requires improvement' in June 2018.

St John the Evangelist Primary School, however, was rated 'good' that same year, a standard it has upheld since 2014.

Now 350-pupil Edith Moorhouse can claim the same standard, with Ofsted praising a 'strong culture of safeguarding' and 'enthusiastic' subject leaders.

It was rated good in all five core areas of assessment.

Marianne Ray, the school's headteacher, said: "This is a fantastic achievement for the staff, who have worked hard over the last few years to make the school a place that the whole community can be proud of.

"It is confirmation that we are doing the right things and that we are a school to which parents in Carterton can confidently send their children.

"We are a happy place with happy children and teachers, and this Ofsted report is just going to raise morale further."

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About one third of Edith Moorhouse’s pupils are from families based at RAF Brize Norton, and Mrs Ray said having the option of a good and supportive school was important for service parents.

She added: "Moving from posting to posting can be disconcerting for children and, therefore, a worry for parents.

"We have always sought to provide reassurance in the shape of a nurturing environment and a good education, and it is great that Ofsted has recognised in its report that we are doing this."

Research released last month concluded that schools should be doing more to tackle the issues that armed forces children face in education.

The research, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, said that schools were consistently failing to recognise the experiences of services children.

Ofsted said of Edith Moorhouse, however: "Pupils understand the importance of helping each other.

"As part of an Armed Forces community, they learn about different cultures while understanding that ‘everybody is equal’."

The school in Lawton Avenue was last rated 'good' in 2012.

This is the second-best of Ofsted's four standards, just below the top level of 'outstanding'.