A HEREFORD primary school has received a truly glowing report following a recent Ofsted inspection.

Holmer CE Academy has achieved the top rating for every category assessed by inspectors during the visit.

The leadership and management, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, personal development, behaviour and welfare of pupils, outcomes for pupils and early years provision at the school were all rated as Outstanding.

The school, which has around 400 pupils on roll, was previously rated Good in 2013.

Inspectors at the time noted rapid improvements in teaching and other areas had taken place to elevate the school's rating from Satisfactory in 2012.

Last month's full inspection took place after an inspector carrying out a short monitoring visit in 2018 thought the school may be on the way to becoming Outstanding.

And the pupils and staff of Holmer CE Academy have pulled out all the stops to prove them correct.

Following their latest visit, inspectors said outstanding teaching had resulted in pupils making very strong progress across the board.

Consistently strong outcomes in reading, writing and mathematics were highlighted, with attainment at the end of both key stage 1 and 2 consistently well above the national average.

Disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs or disabilities also make very strong progress.

"Leaders and teachers are relentless in providing appropriate extra support for these pupils whenever they need it," the report said.

Early years teaching at the school was also described as highly effective, with vibrant and stimulating classroom and outdoor areas complementing the adaptive and expertly planned teaching.

Inspectors praised the senior leadership of the school for their lack of complacency and ability to alter or discard strategies that are not proving sufficiently effective.

The quality and diversity of the curriculum, which is supplemented by a very wide variety of carefully planned additional experiences and opportunities was also highlighted.

Pupil behaviour was also deemed to be outstanding, and inspectors noted that the need for staff to sanction pupils for inappropriate behaviour is rare.

Inspectors said the school could improve further by ensuring the school's governance structure provides sufficient separation between the academy trust's members and its trustees.