EMMANUEL Middle School offers the best of both worlds to its pupils.

It is small enough to feel cosy and welcoming but offers facilities which would make many secondary school pupils envious.

Many areas across the UK are abandoning the middle school system in favour of two-tier education.

But Emmanuel is a good example of why it works well and there are currently no plans to change things in the area, known as the Ferndown and West Moors pyramid.

Children enter the Church of England school at the age of nine in Year 5 and stay for four years.

They don’t face the daunting prospect of entering a huge secondary school at the age of 11 as in other areas but they still get the chance to use state-of-the-art equipment.

Technology rooms are well-equipped and during our visit the glorious smell of shortbread filled the air as we walked past the impressive cookery section.

Science labs and IT suites also offer an exciting range of equipment.

And a new sports hall is currently under construction which will offer a four-court badminton hall as well as new music and drama facilities from September this year.

“We have all the facilities of a secondary school but primary age children are able to use them” said headteacher Jill Watson.

She said Year 8 pupils at Emmanuel are given leadership opportunities not offered to their age group in secondary schools.

Many are School Ambassadors and get involved in the running of the school, even interviewing potential new staff members.

And they also organise events for local first school pupils including football tournaments and golf.

Some pupils leave at the end of Year 6 to attend grammar schools, mainly in Bournemouth.

But parent Rob Anderson, pictured above, said he decided against the move because he is so happy with Emmanuel.

“When we looked around the grammar school we thought it was a really sterile environment compared with here” he said. “I thought my child would be happier to stay here.”

And head of Music Matt Timmins, pictured far left, added: “There are so many opportunities here. We recently took 67 children from the school to perform at the Royal Albert Hall.”