RODMARTON primary is a school on the up and has recently progressed from ‘requiring improvement’ to ‘good’ in its latest Ofsted report.

Staff and pupils take great pride in its creative curriculum and practical hands-on learning.

With just 36 pupils, the school’s small classes mean that each child’s needs are looked at and individual opportunities can be given.

Headteacher Caroline Musty said: “No one is invisible. Staff know children very well so they know what helps them move forward.

“Children who are ready for the next steps are given that opportunity. They can develop at a rate they are working at.”

Art, drama and performance are important subjects for Rodmarton Primary. Core subjects like maths and English are also taught with a highly engaging approach.

Mrs Musty said: “We do a lot of drama to help support their understanding and it builds children’s confidence.

“It is very much the children leading their learning. We get them to have a go and come up with ideas.

“In English, we get them to write a story or act something out. In Maths, if they are learning about measurements, we take them outside and measure things with them.

“We use the environment to support their learning in class. We have Forest School every Monday afternoon where we build dens and make fires.”

The school describes itself as a community school with a broadly Christian focus. Children learn about Christian values and there is collective worship every day For working parents, there is a breakfast club from 7.30am and an after school club from 3.15pm to 6pm.

Mrs Musty said: “We want to build on the good practice that is now in place. We want to promote ourselves as part of the community as well.

“Being a small school, people might think we cannot compete in sports, but we take them to a lot of local events.

“Parents are concerned about big world outside but we do try hard to make links with local schools.”