CHILDREN, staff, parents and governors at Manor Park First School in Dorchester are enjoying a double celebration.

As well as enjoying Ofsted success, the school has also recently had six new classrooms to move into following the completion of the first phase of a building project.

The school received a 'good' rating for overall effectiveness from the Ofsted inspectors despite tougher inspection criteria.

Among the areas praised in the report was the quality of teaching, the relationship between staff and governors and careful planning of the curriculum.

Headteacher Melanie Cridland said: "We are extremely pleased that the hard work of staff, governors and children has been acknowledged.

"It can be seen in the report that we have highly skilled staff who have a profound impact upon the learning of children.

"I am also pleased that the inspectors noted the contribution made by our children, their excellent attitudes and our immense capacity to improve."

She said the school would work hard to improve and added: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank the large number of parents who answered the Ofsted questionnaires or spoke to the inspectors expressing their overwhelmingly positive views of the school."

Chairman of governors Miles King added: "The governors of Manor Park are very proud of our staff and our pupils.

"Ofsted has seen that Manor Park is a great school, which is rising to the challenges we all face in this period of change.

"When our building work is completed we will be a larger school with new facilities, and these will enable children to come here to learn and to thrive."

The six new classrooms form the first of three phases of the school building project, which is due to be fully completed by October.

Year 2's Kingfisher class are among the pupils enjoying the new facilities.

Teacher Stephen Cross said: "The children are absolutely amazed at their new class rooms, the number one thing is how bright they are and how much space we have now.

Comments from children in Mr Cross's class included that the new classrooms were 'ten times better', were 'quieter so we learn better' and 'it's bigger'.

Ms Cridland said: "We are so pleased that the first phase of our building project is now complete.

"The rooms are bright and airy and have a wonderful feel to them.

"I'd like to thank not only the governors and the staff for supporting me in this project but also the parents and our neighbours in the community for their patience with the obvious disturbances that come with this sort of development.

"We are so much looking forward to the whole school being completed."

CONTACT ME

t: 01305 269801

e: harry.hogger@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @echodorch