Your School: Ovingham Church of England First School

Deputy headteacher Andy Hudson said: "The school aims to serve its community by providing an education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice.

"It encourages an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith, and promotes Christian values through the experience it offers to all its pupils."

The pupils themselves are also keen to praise their school.

Representatives from Year 4 said: "The teachers are kind and lessons exciting. Our school is eco-friendly and we are waiting to find out if we are to become a Flagship school for the Food For Life project, which is very exciting.

"We are very proud of our new vegetable gardens, we are looking forward to eating the things we have grown soon.

"We also love the after-school clubs, they are great."

With committed and caring staff who value the children and promote inclusion while making the curriculum exciting, interesting and accessible for all, it's no wonder that the school is rated so highly by pupils and parents alike.

Name of school: Ovingham Church of England First.

Type of school: First School.

Main findings of most recent Ofsted report:

"Ovingham First School is a good school. It is a school where pupils prosper in their personal development. They are mature for their age and become very considerate, courteous and upright. Their social skills are highly developed so friendliness and mutual support are second nature and behaviour is essentially good.

"Pupils play a full part in the school and local community. They are also very clued-up about healthy living, and try to eat wisely and participate in a wide range of exercise. All in all, they are well prepared for their life ahead."

The Church inspection said: "The distinctiveness and effectiveness of Ovingham CE First School as a Church of England school are outstanding. Christian values of love of neighbour, respect for all, tolerance and forgiveness are firmly embedded throughout the school.

"Staff are caring and supportive of pupils. Parents state that their children are given a secure foundation and are very appreciative of the way in which children are nurtured and cared for."

How would you describe the school's ethos and values?

Recognising its historic foundation, the school will preserve and develop its religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England and in partnership with the church at parish and diocesan level.

The school aims to promote the highest academic standards in every area of the curriculum so that all pupils achieve their full potential.

We aim to provide a welcoming, caring and supportive environment in which Christian values are central to the ethos of the school, to value all members of the school community and to provide equal opportunities for all and to show appreciation and respect for others regardless of sex, colour, culture, creed or ability.

What are the school's main strengths?

We have won the Basic Skills Award, Healthy Schools Award, Climate Change Lead School, Eco School, a Creative Partnerships Enquiry school - Year 1 and 3 made movies and animation with help of directors, producers and artist.

We are very proud of the children's singing. We aim to provide an exciting and creative curriculum. We have links with a school in the South of France with whom we exchange information. We are waiting to find out if we are Flagship school for Food For Life. We also have many after-school clubs and a school football team that has played other local schools. Our School Council and Eco Council makes a valid contribution.

What areas are the school trying to improve?

More opportunities for the children to experience outdoor learning and widen their knowledge of subjects through in-depth learning. We are always trying to incorporate ICT into teaching and take on new ideas. We want to raise our profile so that families know where we are and how exciting and vibrant our school is.

What extra-curricular activities and out-of-school provision does the school have?

A committed and hard working PTA who contribute to the whole school. Football, chess, basketball, netball, wildlife explorers, cricket, karate, tennis and rugby clubs. We also have an out-of-school club called Badger Club.

How does the school get involved in the local community?

The Ovingham Goose Fair, regular church services, lunches where classes invite an adult to come and share a school dinner, our Shine Week celebration and fundraising through the Gregg's Cancer Run, Comic Relief, Sport Relief and the Unicef Day of Change.

What is the school's proudest achievements?

When visitors comment on how confident and well-prepared for life the children are and the atmosphere of the school, and when we hear about the children as they develop and show new talents.