A PRIMARY school was celebrating yesterday after Government inspectors hailed its work as outstanding.

Staff and pupils at Red Hall Primary School, in Darlington, were delighted with the glowing Ofsted report.

Inspectors said the school had many outstanding features, with an excellent curriculum expanding pupils' learning.

The report said: "Parents say that children love coming and there is a sense of joy about the school.

"The atmosphere is wonderful, smiles abound and pupils are polite and extremely well-behaved."

Teachers were said to keep an outstandingly good check on pupils' progress, both in and out of the classroom.

The report also heaped praise on the school's efforts to offer care, guidance and support to children.

It said: "Exceptional attention is paid to ensuring that pupils are well cared for in a safe environment.

"The outstanding quality of assessment ensures that pupils experiencing difficulty in their learning are quickly identified and allows staff to offer precisely aimed support and guidance."

The school was the first in Darlington to be assessed under a new inspection framework.

Headteacher Peter Boddy, who was hailed for his outstanding leadership, said: "Our last report was very good, but this is a bit better.

"When you look at where we have come and the progress we have made, it's astonishing.

"The key judgement is value for money.

"In 1997, it was sound. In 2000, it was very good and now they're saying it's outstanding.

"We're absolutely delighted with this."