A BRIDPORT school has been handed top marks after an inspection by a church body.

St Mary's Primary School has been rated as 'outstanding' following the report by the Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS).

The school has improved from it's last inspection in 2010, when it was judged as 'good' by inspectors.

In the report, inspector Marcia Headon praised the 'outstanding leadership and role model of Christian love and care for all pupils by the headteacher' and that the 'deeply embedded and understood values and belief system of the school' help to guide the children's attitudes and behaviour.

Ms Headon said: "Pupils of all ages have a clear understanding of how the values influence their lives.

"The great majority of pupils make good or better progress from their starting points, which are often very low, and their academic needs are very well catered for."

The school was also praised for 'exceptional care' for disadvantaged pupils, while relationships within the school were deemed 'excellent'.

"Living out its Christian mission and beliefs, the school has provided exceptional care for children who are disadvantaged and has developed innovative ways to overcome barriers to learning through its use of ‘The Den’," continued Ms Headon.

"Relationships within the school are excellent and staff not only care for children but for one another’s welfare, supporting when in difficulty and sharing achievements. Pupils’ spiritual development is outstanding."

Headteacher of St Mary's Primary School, Helen Farmer, said she was 'absolutely delighted' with the inspection and praised the school staff for their dedication.

"We are absolutely delighted because it has given us the highest ranking we can get and it captures everything that we do here," she said.

"My staff are incredible and they put the children at the centre of everything they do.

"We are a very tight community and we have a lot of belief in our cracking children and in what they are capable of doing.

"It has started us on a high note for the new school year and I'm really pleased."

Pupils were praised for showing respect to others, including those of other faiths, and that they 'have a good awareness of the needs of the wider world'.

The school was also given areas to improve, including involving more pupils in 'planning and leading aspects of

collective worship' and that the governors' work should 'include an evaluation of the distinctiveness of the school as a church school'.