One of the county’s smallest primary schools, St Martin-in-Meneage, was judged “good” overall during a recent Ofsted inspection.

The inspection was one of the first to be carried out under the new system, introduced in January this year, which saw one inspector spending two days in the school and attending a total of ten lessons.

He also observed break times and lunch hours and held meetings with various groups representing the school, including the school council.

Although much smaller than the average primary school, with only 41 pupils, St Martin works in close partnership with nearby Garras School, that also achieved a “good” grade at Ofsted in December 2010.

The St Martin inspection found that pupils enjoyed going to school and that there were “stimulating” experiences for them during lessons.

The inspector described the children as being extremely well behaved and awarded the school “outstanding” for behaviour and safety.

A strength of the school was the teaching of pupils in small groups, so that staff got to know children extremely well and were able to encourage them to do their best and give their own views and ideas.

The children at St Martin took the inspection in their stride, with some even saying that they had enjoyed it.

Anne Shipman, executive headteacher at St Martin, said: “This inspection judgement is the result of years of hard work by staff, senior management and the governing body.

“I am very pleased that the outstanding behaviour of pupils in lessons, above average attendance and the excellent promotion of spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our children has been recognised.

“I would like to thank everyone in the school community who has helped make this possible.”

The school was given two issues to address in order to improve further. These were connected with mathematics recording and marking and the development of the role of teaching assistants. Work on addressing these issues has already begun.