A TAVISTOCK junior school has been highlighted by education inspectors as a good school with outstanding features.

And, they say, St Peter's C of E Juniors is set to get even better.

'This is a good school in which attainment is above average and pupils make good, and sometimes outstanding, progress,' said the inspectors.

'Pupils are keen to learn. They enjoy lessons and the excellent range of enrichment activities such as sport, music and drama.

'Attainment is securely above average by the end of Year 6 and all pupils receive an outstanding level of support.

'Teachers have strong subject knowledge, build on excellent relationships in class, deploy teaching assistants very effectively and use questioning well to elicit good understanding from pupils.

'Pupils love the well-planned curriculum and their enjoyment is reflected in their good behaviour and above average attendance.'

Two inspectors from the school standards agency, Ofsted, spent two days at St Peter's last month. Lead inspector John Laver said parents responded to an Ofsted questionnaire in very high numbers and were almost unanimous in their praise and support for the school.

One parent typically told the inspectors: 'The school has provided a really secure foundation in education and life skills.'

Mr Laver said: 'This comment summarises both the school's academic success and its success in creating a very caring and supportive environment.

'Central to the school's continuing improvement has been the enthusiastic and determined leadership of the headteacher.

'High expectations are at the heart of the leadership's drive to build on the school's good capacity to improve upon previous successes and pursue excellence.

'The governing body is supportive, challenging in holding the school to account, active within the school and very knowledgeable.'

Mr Laver said the 147-pupil junior school had launched a very successful federation with St Rumon's Infants and executive headteacher Clare Wesson had closely integrated the two schools in an impressively short time, with the able support of staff and governors.

To improve still further, Mr Laver said St Peter's should raise the attainment of the most able pupils and improve the children's knowledge and understanding of people from other parts of Britain and the wider world.

Mrs Wesson said: 'I am delighted with the outcome of the inspection.

'It's a tribute to the dedication and commitment of all the staff here.

'We have set ourselves the high aspiration to be judged outstanding at the next inspection. This means we are well on the way.'