MOTOMBE Primary School has been praised for ‘calm’ lessons and branded a ‘happy place to be’ by inspectors.

The Church Road school was given a ‘good’ ranking after a recent visit by Ofsted inspectors.

Inspectors said the school was ‘a happy place to be’ and that ‘staff care deeply about pupils’ happiness and wellbeing’.

Leaders were also praised for having high expectations, with reading highlighted as a strength.

The report said: “Leaders are determined for all pupils at Motcombe to love reading. They work in partnership with parents to promote this ambition.” Pupils learn about ‘a wide range of genres and talk knowledgeably about vocabulary’, it added.

“Lessons are calm and conduct is positive around the school,” the report said.

“Pupils delight in helping one another through leadership opportunities, such as peer mentors, which help pupils to develop independence.”

Headteacher, Matt Barge, welcomed the feedback from inspectors.

“We are obviously delighted that Ofsted have recognised what a fantastic school Motcombe Primary is,” he said.

“We have an incredible team of teachers who make education fun, engaging and inspiring, and this report is a testament to their hard work.

“We were also really pleased to see Ofsted praise our brilliant pupils and the positive attitudes that they have, and I would also like to thank our great team of local governors for their ongoing support for our school.”

Motcombe Primary School is part of SAST (Sherborne Area Schools’ Trust).

Education director, Steve Smith, added: “We are very proud of the team at Motcombe, who go above and beyond every day to provide an excellent educational experience to the children within their care.

“As well as ensuring their school is the best it can be, Matt and his team also give their time and expertise generously to support other neighbouring schools, which is what makes being part of a family of schools so beneficial to both children and staff.”