A local school has been rated among the best in the country in its latest Ofsted report.

Grange Infant and Nursery School which is soon to merge with Grange Junior School has received a glowing report from inspectors.  The school is just outside the Yarborough Ward, but it is attended by children from all over the surrounding area.

The report begins by saying: “This is an outstanding school. It makes a significant difference to the life chances of its pupils and makes an excellent contribution to the life and work of the local community.

“The success of the school is rooted in the exceptional levels of dedication and commitment of all staff.

“Nothing is too much for them, a fact that is valued by parents, the large majority of whom hold the school in high regard.”

The report continues: “Early analysis of the 2008 national test results suggest that pupils are making much better progress than pupils from similar schools.

“Given the low starting point to school, and the significant barriers to learning, including over half of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, to reach such standards represents outstanding achievement.”

It said “not a second” was lost and “packed with exciting activities”, whilst play is “exceptionally well organised” and a “learning experience”.

In a letter to pupils from Ofsted, inspector Dave Byrne said: “All of your teachers and the headteacher care for you very much.

“You all seem to enjoy school and I hope that you continue to do so. You are lucky to go to such a good school, in fact it is one of the best in the country!”

Headteacher Richard Oulton said it put them in the top seven per cent of schools in the area.

It was a proud moment for him, having worked at the school a total of 18 years: “We have worked hard to get it to this standard, and that is thanks to the dedication of the staff.

“They were delighted when I told them.”

He said much of the evidence came from the youngsters themselves: “Ofsted work to get a lot of their information directly from the children now, and talk to them.”