A school celebrating its 25th anniversary has been given one of the best presents it could hope for.

An Ofsted report praised St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School in Thame.

The inspectors' report said: "The school helps children grow into mature, sensible and responsible young people."

They praised "the very positive ethos the school generates which encourages the pupils to work hard, form good attitudes to learning and to achieve to the best of their abilities.

They found no unsatisfactory teaching.

The report said: "The very good leadership and effective management provide the school with a clear sense of purpose and the will to continue to improve."

Another area receiving strong praise was the relationship between pupils and staff and each other.

The report said: "The school is harmonious and a pleasant place to be."

The inspectors found eight out of ten lessons were good or better and a third very good or excellent.

Headteacher Matthew Flannigan said: "We were all delighted at the tone of this report. It is a great credit to the staff, the governors and the children themselves."

Mr Flannigan and his staff are already working on the two areas the Ofsted inspectors outlined for improvement spelling and teaching the children to carry out scientific investigations.

Fr Chris Marsden, the chairman of the governors, said: "The report was a well deserved recognition of the commitment, expertise and dedication of the staff and emphasised the strong relationship between the parents, school and church."

The 200-pupil school celebrated its 25th anniversary at the weekend with a mass attended by more than 300 people.