A SCHOOL in Bridgwater has boosted its Ofsted rating from 'requires improvement' to 'good' across the board.

Hamp Academy was found to be 'good' in all categories judged - quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.

Inspectors visited the school on June 22 and 23 and released the ratified document after the summer holidays.

Its previous inspection in 2018, which resulted in the school being rated 'requires improvement' overall, came just weeks into the tenure of the then-new headteacher, Sarah Hitchings

Miss Hitchings said: “We have made changes to the school with passion and drive, always being clear about the journey forwards, even in the difficult Covid times.

“This really has been a huge team effort. The support we have received from our families and students, the wider community and our Trust have been immense.”

The report found the school "has a calm and orderly atmosphere.", where “pupils of all ages know and understand what it means to stay safe at school and in the community”.

It says: "Staff have high expectations for how pupils behave. Pupils know how to behave and understand right from wrong”.

The school, which now caters for over 350 pupils aged 7-11, help pupils to “think about others and the difference they can make through their actions”, the report says. Ofsted praised school leaders and they also praised the dedication and commitment of staff.

Head, Sarah, says “I cannot contain my delight that Ofsted have come in and seen the school in all its glory and acknowledged what a wonderful learning environment we have here at Hamp.

"It truly is a very special place to work and for our children to learn and we really are a community and I am incredibly proud to work with our community and lead the school."

"It also hailed the strong focus on pupils personal development mentioning that “pupils talk knowledgeably about important issues, such as diversity and equality. They challenge any form of discrimination and judge no one.”

Sarah finished by saying: "We have come so far in a short space of time and that is testament to the dedicated staff we have here and to the tenacity of the children and the hard work they put in once they step into the school and know this is an extension of their family.”