A SOUTH Oxfordshire school with a 'strongly positive culture' and high-achieving pupils has been rated outstanding by inspectors.

Buckland Church of England Primary School in Faringdon was praised by Ofsted following an inspection last month.

In an report released last Thursday inspectors said the school had very effective teaching and a relentless focus on making sure each pupil is developed, nurtured and challenged.

Pupils were deemed to behave and care for each other exceptionally well and governance was found to be excellent.

Lead inspector Sara Hubbard said: "Teaching, learning and assessment are highly effective.

"Pupils learn very well, show high levels of intellectual curiosity and are both challenged and stimulated by the work teachers set for them.

"Of note is the way pupils read, understand and analyse challenging texts. "They are guided in developing a highly sophisticated understanding through discussions with their teachers and peers."

Mathematics teaching was also said to be excellent.

Ms Hubbard identified only one area in which the 107-pupil school could improve further, saying that plans for sharing strong practice should be fully implemented in order to make all teaching assistants as effective as the best.