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Great day for village school

From the archive, first published Monday 19th Jun 2000.

OTTERBOURNE Primary School has had a double celebration of an excellent Ofsted report and the official opening of its long awaited new classrooms.

Inspectors said the school in the village near Winchester was "very good" in a visit that also noted that 93 per cent of lessons good or excellent.

The inspector, David Gott, praised the "striking buzz of enthusiasm about the school" and the very good relationships between pupils and teachers.

Results in national tests for the pupils were above the national average and the school was well managed.

The four new classrooms, main entrance and library, which cost £400,000, were opened by the Bishop of Winchester the Right Reverend Michael Scott-Joynt.

They replaced "temporary" classrooms that had been used at the school for 27 years.

Headteacher Mike Graveling said: "We have waited a long time for these new buildings and it's a pleasure to bring all the children under one roof at last.

"The creation of the new library and main entrance was a bonus which has created a feeling of space and light at the centre of the school.

"The Ofsted inspection was carried out only two weeks after we moved into the new classes and I congratulate the children and staff on the way in which they maintained their high standards throughout. We also owe a great deal to those parents who rallied around to help us sort out the new classrooms in time."

During the opening the Bishop talked to the children about teamwork.

The pupils celebrated by sharing a cake especially baked for the occasion by school's popular cook Martine Ford.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.

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