AN infant school, last inspected 14 years ago, has been awarded a ‘good’ rating by Ofsted who noted pupils “eagerly come to school each morning”.

Ringwood Church of England Infant School was inspected across two days in early October, the first time the education authority had visited since 2007 – when it was given an ‘outstanding’ rating.

Between visits, the school was awarded an ‘outstanding’ in a Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) report in 2018.

From 2007 until November 2020, the school was exempt by law from routine inspection which meant there had been a longer gap than usual between inspections.

Despite the drop in rating, the report featured predominantly positive feedback.

It said: “Pupils eagerly come to school each morning knowing that they will have an exciting and inspiring day ahead.

Bournemouth Echo: Ringwood C.E. Infant School at School Lane in Ringwood.Ringwood C.E. Infant School at School Lane in Ringwood.

“The teachers have high expectations of what pupils will achieve in their learning.

“Alongside this, the school’s values help pupils know how they should behave. As they learn to read and write, pupils strive to be courageous. They show love and respect to their friends and adults that help them. As a result, learning is calm and purposeful.

“This is a school where pupils are cherished and nurtured. Everyone’s differences, talents and interests are valued. As one pupil commented, ‘It would be boring if we were just the same’.”

In terms of improvement, the report stated: “Leaders are aware that, in a very small number of subjects, further refinements are needed to embed the curriculum securely and consistently.

“This includes the ongoing development of the early years curriculum in line with the new ‘Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage’. Leaders must monitor this work carefully to ensure that pupils know and remember more across the whole curriculum.”

The school is a larger than average infant school with nearly 300 pupils.