A surprise Ofsted inspection over behaviour at Parc Eglos School has revealed "high standards".

A report published on the government body's website this month said the inspection was carried out at the Helston primary without notice, "because Her Majesty's Chief Inspector was concerned about behaviour at the school."

However, inspector Marcia Headon concluded: "Leaders and managers have taken effective action to maintain the high standards of behaviour and attitudes identified at the school's previous inspection."

She watched pupils as they arrived at and left school, during lessons in all classes, in an assembly and at registration times, and as they moved around the school during break and lunchtime.

Ms Headon reported that pupils behaved well, were attentive in lessons and enthusiastic about their work and

school in general. During her visit she watched reception class pupils practise for their Christmas performance and said they "took careful notice" when learning a new dance.

She said of the school overall: "Pupils are courteous towards one another, teachers and other adults. Teachers have high expectations of good behaviour and speak very politely to pupils.

"Pupils know the significance of good behaviour and consider it important."

It was "unusual" for lessons to be disturbed by bad behaviour, which was dealt with immediately.

Ms Headon added: "The school takes any incidents of bullying very seriously. Parents are very supportive of this and say they are confident any issues will be dealt with promptly. Pupils also report that although there is very little bullying it is regarded as a matter of grave importance by the school."

She found that pupils were "eager to help one another", with many rushing to help a fellow child whose lunchbox had been blown across the playground by the wind.

While staff were up to date in their training on how to keep pupils safe, Ms Headon said leaders were "well aware" that issues existed with parental access to the nursery school on the same site. Existing plans for more secure access were yet to be introduced.

Pupils were punctual to lessons, but a number were late in the mornings and opportunities to "stress the importance of punctuality" were sometimes missed, the inspector found.

Last year pupils’ achievements at the end of key stage one (the infant years) dipped, with Ms Headon finding a number of changes in staffing in one year group had an "adverse impact" on both pupils' achievement and standard of behaviour. A permanent, experienced teacher had now been appointed and behaviour had improved "significantly."

Key stage two (junior years) were seeing higher achievements than the previous year.

Ms Headon said that to improve further the school's plans for more secure access to the nursery should be "implemented rapidly", the importance of punctuality should be emphasised more strongly and improvements should be made to reviewing attendance, so that the school could act quickly to issues.

Headteacher Brett Dye said the inspection took place "completely out of the blue", adding that the school was delighted with the findings.

He added: "This also means that the school retains its Ofsted 'outstanding' status and we can continue to be one of only a few primary schools in the South West that have achieved this."

Mr Dye said pupils, parents and staff should all be "justly proud."