Little angels... and that's official

The Church of England primary school in Bierley has just had an Ofsted inspection which confirms what staff at the school already know.

The inspection team were bowled over by the reception they enjoyed from the children, who greeted them with huge beams, raced to hold open doors, and never seemed to fall out with one another.

And when they checked to see if they were getting special treatment, parents insisted such behaviour was normal all the year round.

The school's motto is Believe and Succeed and its email address is

littleangels@stjohns.ngfl.ac.uk - both have now taken on new meaning.

The watchdog's verdict is that the school is "outstanding" and the behaviour of its pupils is described as excellent and exemplary.

The report is said to be among the best that officials at Education Bradford have ever seen.

"This is a highly effective school that provides an outstanding education for all its pupils," the report concludes. "It takes exceptional care of boys and girls of all ages."

The school's 371 pupils are largely white and many come from socially disadvantaged areas.

Despite low levels of attainment on entry to school, good teaching ensures that they are up to national standards and sometimes above them by the time they leave.

The progress children make is directly related to the high standards of behaviour in school, the report says. "They settle quickly at the beginning of lessons and that means very little learning time is lost."

Inspectors noted the school buildings at Dawson Lane were in pristine condition with no evidence of even minor vandalism.

They also witnessed children picking up bits of litter and placing them in bins. Playtimes were "very pleasant social occasions where boys and girls mix amiably together"; a black child told of her relief at encountering no racist comments, which she had suffered at her previous school.

Long-serving head teacher Gloria Gott, pictured with some of the children, wins praise for her "inspirational leadership"; senior managers and governors are given a pat on the back for sharing her "vision of excellence".

Mrs Gott said: "We are absolutely delighted that this extraordinary school continues to be so positively recognised. We have had a consistent management team and chairman of governors in this school for many years and we all work well together."

The Rev Gordon Dey, chairman of governors, said: "Inspections are not given to overstatement and if a school has been described as outstanding, as ours has, that is a matter of very great significance."