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A North Yorkshire village primary school is celebrating a successful Ofsted inspection after receiving a glowing report less than a month after the arrival of its new headteacher.
Appleton Wiske Community Primary School, which includes a pre-school nursery, met Ofsted’s expected standard in five areas and was rated strong for attendance and behaviour, and personal development and wellbeing.
Inspectors singled out attendance and behaviour, and personal development and wellbeing, as particular strengths.
Joe Larder, who is in his first term as headteacher, said: "Although I have only been at the school for a short time, I am immensely proud of this achievement on behalf of the previous leadership team, our dedicated staff, governors, pupils and families.
"The report reflects the many strengths of our small yet thriving school community and the commitment everyone shows in ensuring our children receive the very best education."
Ofsted praised the school’s personal development programme, saying it "thoughtfully nurtures pupils' character, broadens their horizons and offers plenty of opportunities to help them grow into responsible, mature citizens."
Inspectors also found that "pupils behave consistently well" and "pupils take pride in belonging to this welcoming and harmonious village school."
He said: "As one of the few maintained primary schools in Hambleton, we are excited about the future and hope to receive the support needed to expand and future-proof our exceptional provision so that it continues to serve local families for many years to come."
Jane Quy, chair of the governing body, praised the school community and paid tribute to former headteacher Neil Clark.
Mrs Quy said: "We are immensely proud of the outcome of our recent inspection, which reflects the hard work, dedication, and shared commitment of our entire school community.
"The highly positive feedback received is a testament to the outstanding leadership of our former headteacher, Neil Clark, over the past decade, as well as the unwavering dedication of our staff, pupils, families and governors."
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Mrs Quy said: "As we celebrate this achievement, we are excited about the future and the opportunities ahead under the leadership of our new headteacher, Joe Larder.
"Since joining the school in September, he has quickly made a positive impact, guiding the school through the inspection and strengthening the excellent foundations already in place.
"Under his leadership, we are confident that the school will continue to thrive in the years to come."