A WEST Devon primary school has won an Investor in People award following its work with Prosper Business Link.
Gulworthy Primary, which has a teaching and support staff of eight, discovered it was already committed to effective training even before it heard of Investors in people awards.
Headteacher Peter Mawer said: 'It turned out we were already doing all the things that Prosper was suggesting.
'This included a long-term commitment to staff training and involving all the staff in the planning and decision-making process.'
Both Mr Mawer and the recently appointed chair of governors, Simon Howes, have undergone management training in topics such as performance management, the new system of target-setting for appraising teachers.
And one employee, Joy Perkins, recruited ten years ago as a classroom assistant, is soon to rejoin the school as a part-time teacher.
Mr Mawer said: 'We encouraged Mrs Perkins to train as a teacher at the College of St Mark and St John in Plymouth and now things have gone full circle.'
The Investor in People project focuses on the long-term development of employees and follows their career path throughout their working life.
In its most recent inspection, Ofsted praised the school for having standards 'mainly well above average' by the time pupils leave at the end of Year 6. Indeed, in all of the core subjects - English Maths and Science — the pupils' results demonstrate a continual improvement in standards.
Since Mr Mawer joined the school some 25 years ago, its roll has doubled and it now has places for 60 children between the ages of 4 and 11.