A POOLE first school has been honoured by Ofsted in a celebration of outstanding schools in England.

Popular and oversubscribed Courthill First School in Parkstone was the only school in the south of England to go from satisfactory to outstanding from one inspection to the next.

Head teacher Jane Davies was invited to an event in London to honour top schools and picked out infront of 300 heads to be lauded by Christine Gilbert, chief inspector of education, children’s services and skills.

Hosting the celebration, the chief inspector recognised the determination, ambition and commitment it takes to become an outstanding school.

“Outstanding schools have leaders of vision, courage and conviction, and the ability to create and inspire their staff, their students and the communities they serve,” she said.

“I hope that these outstanding schools are a beacon to others; an example of what can be achieved with aspiration and determination.”

Mrs Davies, who heads the 358 pupil school of four to eight year-olds, took it from satisfactory in September 2004 to outstanding by its February 2008 inspection.

“We were exceptionally pleased to be given the accolade of ‘outstanding’. It was a real team effort,” she said.

“The staff really put their heart and soul into their daily activities and we have very supportive parents and governing body.

“Visitors recently remarked how calm and inviting the school was, with the children all engaged in their learning.”

Courthill is one of 2,940 schools, colleges and social care providers judged outstanding in the inspection cycle 2007/8 and entitled to use an exclusive “outstanding provider” logo.