A VILLAGE school renowned for its strong links with the community has been ranked Outstanding at every level.

Hordle Primary School, with 330 pupils aged between three and 11, won praise from government inspectors who said head teacher Fiona Adams “offers inspirational leadership.”

Ofsted inspectors visited the Hordle Lane, Lymington school for two days in March and praised teaching and learning, staff morale, well-informed governors and the good progress made by pupils.

They said teachers have excellent knowledge of their subjects and their pupils and said pupils with special educational needs or disability are taught and looked after very well.

The “exemplary” behaviour of pupils was noted and inspectors said attendance is above the national average.

Hordle Primary operates a “Grandhordle” scheme in which older members of the community, many of them grandparents, work regularly with the children.

Inspectors said children develop good social skills as a result of their interaction with more senior members of the community.

Mrs Adams was thrilled with the report and said: “We don’t call ourselves Team Hordle for nothing and this achievement belongs to the whole school team – the staff the governors and the children and their families – all of whom have worked tirelessly to achieve the best for our pupils.

“When I first arrived at the school we were in a very different place. I am just so thrilled to see this school become what it so richly deserves to be – a school that our community can be proud of, a school where our families can be confident that their children are getting the very best education possible.”

The school was upgraded from its previous rating of Good following the inspection.

Parents or carers wishing to find out more can contact the school on 01425 611657 or visit the website: hordle.hants.sch.uk from where they can download a full version of the Ofsted report.