A CREWE primary school is celebrating retaining its ‘good’ rating from the government’s education watchdog.

The school in Dane Bank Avenue achieved ratings of ‘good’ – the second highest level in the Ofsted ranking system – across the board.

Criteria include pupils’ achievements, behaviour and safety as well as the quality of teaching and of leadership and management.

St Mary’s head Susan Fau-Goodwin said she was ‘delighted’ with the report.

She said: “St Mary’s will never stop striving for improvement, raising aspiration and ensuring our children achieve the very best they can.”

She also thanked parents and the community for its support, trust and confidence of the school in the face of a difficult educational climate.

A team of four Ofsted inspectors compiled the report after spending two days at the school in December.

They observed lessons and work, and met with parents, teachers and students during the visit.

Lead inspector Jeremy Barnes noted in his report: “This is a good school.

“This inclusive and happy school continues to provide its pupils with a good education.

“The strong, strategic leadership shown by the head teacher and her team since the last inspection is reaping rewards for pupils.”

The report also noted that pupils refer to their school as ‘a family where we look after each other’.

Mr Barnes added: “Teaching is good across the school. This is because of teachers’ command of their subjects, their detailed knowledge of the pupils and the increasingly high expectations they have of pupils’

“The behaviour of pupils is good. Pupils are busy and active in the school. The pride they show in being ‘a St Mary’s pupil’ is evident in the standard of presentation in their books.”

Inspectors say the school achieve an ‘outstanding’ rating by challenging its top learners further still, and training middle-leader members of staff in managing learning and assessment improvements.