STUDENTS and staff at Wareham St Mary Primary School are celebrating after receiving the thumbs-up from Ofsted.

Government education inspectors judged the school, formerly Lady St Mary First School, as good with outstanding features.

The school’s previous rating, in 2010, was satisfactory.

Headteacher Lin Goldsmith said: “We’re delighted that the hard work to develop our school on all levels has been recognised.

“I have a fantastic staff team and an equally fantastic school.

“Together, we’re looking forward to taking our school forward to become a full primary school in September when we will finally have our Year 6 pupils.”

Inspectors heaped particular praise on pupils’ standards of writing and the headteacher’s leadership.

Phonics and reading and the partnership with parents were also praised.

A school spokesman said: “The school has undergone a complete internal rebuild over the past year as part of the Purbeck Review and now has excellent facilities for learning.

“Work on landscaping and provision for new facilities for the before and after school care, Prime Time, is now in progress.”

Earlier this year it was reported how the Prime Time Kids Club had been awarded a £10,000 National Lottery grant.

This money is being used to help kit out the club which moves to its larger premises in the grounds of Wareham St Mary Primary School.

Ofsted also reported that the “pupils’ good behaviour, polite-ness, courtesy and capacity to respect the rights of others make the school a very happy and safe place to be.”