A DORCHESTER first school has been recognised for making significant improvements.

St Mary’s Catholic First School received an overall rating of good in its recent Ofsted inspection, with several areas being assessed as outstanding.

The judgement marks a step up from the school’s previous inspection in 2007, when it received a satisfactory rating. The latest inspection report states: “This is a good school.

“It has made significant improvements in all aspects of its work since the previous inspection.”

The Lucetta Lane school was judged as outstanding in the extent to which it made pupils feel safe, pupils’ behaviour, the extent to which pupils adopt healthy lifestyles, their contribution to the school and wider community and their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

The report says: “Particularly impressive aspects of pupils’ personal development are their excellent behaviour and the way that pupils care for one another.”

It adds: “Pupils love physical activity and have an excellent understanding of its importance and the need for healthy eating as a basis for a healthy lifestyle.”

Areas earmarked for improvement by inspectors included the need for more opportunities to use computers and other equipment to help pupils learn more about ICT.

The report said the school also needed to ensure pupils are fully aware of all the purposes of the tasks they are given in lessons.

Headteacher Jackie Clayton said these suggestions had already been taken on board and would be included in the school’s development plan.

In a joint statement, co-chairs of governors at the school Catherine Macer-Wright and Caroline Pluck said: “We have always known that St Mary’s Catholic First School is a good school with outstanding pupils who are nurtured and cared for.

“So it is fantastic to have this recognised by the Ofsted inspection team.

“All the staff, in particular the management team of the school, subject co-ordinators and the senior leadership team, have worked extraordinarily hard since our last Ofsted to improve the educational experience of our pupils and they deserve this judgement.”