A FIRST school has been praised for a 'phenomenal achievement' by Ofsted inspectors.

Broomley First School, in Stocksfield, has been rated by Ofsted as good in its most recent report, published on February 16.

It was rated good in all areas and for its overall effectiveness.

The report said: "Pupils say that they are happy in school and that it is easy to make friends. As one pupil said, ‘It’s so easy to make friends here that I’m friends with the whole school.’ This view was endorsed by all of the pupils spoken to."

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Explaining what the school does well, the report said: "The school has secured improved classroom practice and strengthened the school’s curriculums. This is against a backdrop of considerable staffing changes in the last academic year. This is a phenomenal achievement.

"The school prioritises reading. Children in the early years get off to a great start in their reading. Precision teaching enables children to secure their phonics knowledge well."

It added: "However, opportunities for pupils to explain their thinking and to deepen their understanding are less secure. Although planned for, opportunities for more demanding activities are often at the end of lessons and not completed."