A village school with fewer than 200 pupils is celebrating being named as one of the top primary schools in the country.

Every single child at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Nympsfield reached, or exceeded, the expected standard of reading at the end of their time there.

The children's impressive love of reading has put them in the top one per cent of all primary schools in England.

Additionally the school received a letter of congratulations from the Secretary of State for Education, MP Damian Hinds.

"We would like to congratulate you, your staff and your pupils on the very high standard of achievement demonstrated in the reading Key Stage 2 assessments last year," the letter to headteacher Wendy D'arcy said.

After acknowledging that this staggering result puts the school in the top one per cent in the country the letter continues: "Thank you for producing such high standards through your hard work and professionalism, and congratulations again to you and your staff for all you have achieved."

Speaking of the school's achievement and the praise that the school had received from the government headteacher Wendy D'arcy said that the results had been a team effort.

"It's a team effort from the moment the children start at the school all the way through to their time here," Wendy told the SNJ.

"We are delighted with the letter that we received acknowledging what the children have achieved, and very proud of our school community too."