TEACHERS at Newton Abbot's St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School have received a 100 per cent marking from OFSTED's independent education inspectors.

It is a rare accolade – the inspectors found that 100 per cent of the teaching in both the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 was good or better.

In Key Stage 2, 83 per cent of the teaching was good or better and the rest was satisfactory. There was no unsatisfactory teaching.

Overall 91 per cent of teaching was good or better, with 31 per cent very good – a magnificent achievement.

The praise did not stop there. The report says that children in the Foundation Stage make good progress and nearly all of them have exceeded the early learning goals.

Assessment results at Key Stage 1 last year showed seven-year-old pupils in the top five per cent in the country for maths and science. Pupils were also well above the national average in reading and writing.

Standards at Key Stage 2 (11-year-olds) were not as encouraging last year when there was a large proportion of pupils with special educational needs.

Already, though, the results for 2001 show standards in English, maths and science have improved and are now around average compared to similar schools, and, said the inspectors, the school has set realistic targets to raise standards in English and maths by 2002.

They also found that the school takes good care of its pupils with a strong christian ethos apparent.

The inspectors pointed out that the school had suffered an unsettled period with a number of changes of head, but the new headteacher Andrea Medway was an enthusiastic and inspiring leader, well supported by the whole team.

Areas highlighted in the report for further improvement include improving standards in writing and information and communication technology (ICT) at Key Stage 2 and extending rigorous monitoring to raise standards.

A delighted Mrs Medway said there were no surprises in the report.

'Work is already well under way to install an ICT suite which will greatly improve our provision.

'I am delighted with the positive outcome to our inspection which is thanks to the efforts of an excellent team involving the whole school community.

'We pride ourselves on being a caring school family where each child is able to succeed in some way and where all staff work together for the benefit of our children,' she said.

The chairman of governors, Mary Rowett said the inspectors had recognised the excellent leadership and management qualities of the new headteacher.

'The good quality teaching reflects the hard work and dedication of all our teaching and non-teaching staff. Our school provides a happy and caring environment for all our children and this is evident in the inspection report,' she added.