A CHURCH school is celebrating after being given top marks by inspectors Ofsted.

St Michael’s CofE School in Wrotham Road, Welling, has just undergone two inspections and passed both with flying colours.

Inspectors judged the school to be “a very happy family school that provides pupils with a good education”.

Their report described the school as having several outstanding features, including its pastoral care, exemplary curriculum and aspects of pupils’ personal development.

It concluded: “The pupils are inspired learners who work hard and achieve well.”

Inspectors judged the standard of work as higher than the national average by the end of Year 6, and said high expectations meant pupils’ skills increased quickly.

They also praised the range of clubs and extra activities such as sport and “the fantastic Mambo Steel Band”, adding “pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding”.

St Michael’s was also judged “outstanding” for its effectiveness as a church school.

The school’s headteacher, Richard Varney, was delighted.

He said: “I attribute the success of the school to the tremendous team effort of staff, pupils, governors and parents.”