DAVENHAM CofE Primary School has achieved the highest possible grades following a recent inspection.

The school, in Charles Avenue, maintained its overall outstanding grade in a recent inspection and attained this grade across the board in all areas that are scrutinised by the Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS).

Joanne Hyslop, school headteacher, said: “This is a great achievement as it is extremely difficult to achieve these top marks during an inspection, let alone manage it for all the key areas that are looked into.

“It makes me very proud of all our staff and pupils who work so hard each and every day when they come to the school as we couldn’t do it without their daily support, effort and dedication.”

The CofE inspection focuses on the Christian values of the school, collective worship, RE lessons as well as the overall leadership and management of the school.

The SIAMS report states that the outstanding Christian vision and leadership of the headteacher provided a “cornerstone for the success and excellence of this deeply Christian school”.

Mrs Hyslop, who was previously deputy headteacher, has been in post since September 2016.

It said: “As a result, all pupils confidently express their faith and belief that Jesus is at the heart of their school and their lives. They flourish because of what everyone sees as the ‘golden thread of Christianity’ that runs through the life of the school.”

The school also received praise for maintaining ‘very strong links exist between the school, families, the church and the community resulting in a harmonious and vibrant worshipping community.

This outstanding reputation has meant that the school is consistently oversubscribed for new pupils, which in recent years meant that two new classrooms were built to accommodate the 313 pupils who currently attend the school.

As part of the SIAMS visit, inspectors will speak to a range of people across the school for their views. This includes teachers, governors, parents and the pupils at the school.

Christian character is praised highly through the report, noting that the pupils at Davenham CofE are “very respectful of other faiths and have a good understanding of diversity.”

The collective worship at Davenham was quoted as being “reflective of the school’s strong Christian distinctiveness and is a vital feature of the school’s daily life” and the school’s “creative and imaginative approach” to RE teaching results in lessons which pupils say are fun and challenging.”

The report also says that parents commented on the strength of the school’s Christian message and its positive influence on their family lives.

One parent said: “Nothing is too much for the staff here. I can’t get over how much love and care they show. That is why I chose Davenham.”

For more information about the school, or to read the full SIAMS report, head to davenhamcofeprimary.com