IT was time for tea as Sticklands Primary School celebrated the results of its latest Ofsted inspection.

The Evershot school held a tea party after retaining their ‘good’ rating from the school inspection body.

Sticklands Primary School was rated as good in its last Ofsted inspection in October 2008 but faced a challenge to achieve the same status as it was one of the first schools in Dorset to face a new and more challenging inspection framework.

The report highlighted the school’s outstanding provision in early years foundation stage as a particular strength.

Chairman of governors at the school Sarah Girling said: “The inspector could not have praised our reception teacher more highly and we are all extremely proud of her and the work done by the whole staff team.

The inspection comes as the Church of England school faces the challenge of recruiting a new headteacher, who they hope will be able to build on the strengths highlighted in the Ofsted report and move the school forward in the future.

Current headteacher Ian Robinson said: “It is a credit to the high quality support that the children are given that the report recognises Stickland’s success in closing the gap for those pupils with special educational needs ensuring that children make good progress regardless of their starting point.

“An enormous amount of excellent work has gone into maintaining high standards at Stickland’s since the last inspection and this good judgement by Ofsted validates the work of the staff, governors, parents and pupils.

“We are all very proud of our school and are pleased that the Ofsted inspector recognises our strengths.”