A primary and nursery school has received an outstanding rating in an inspection by the Salford Diocese.

St Oswald’s RC Primary School on Hartley Avenue in Accrington were given the top rating in all areas in their religious education inspection.

The school, which has 118 pupils registered, was also given an outstanding rating by education body Ofsted following an inspection in September last year.

Headteacher Jeff Brown said he was delighted with the inspection outcome as it recognised the hard work of children, staff, governors and parents over the last five years.

He said: “It is a tremendous achievement for our school community to do so well across its recent Ofsted and Religious Education Inspections.

“This now gives us an assurance that we are providing an outstanding all round faith based education for our children. St Oswald’s truly is a school where everyone recognises the need to work together as a family, showing love and concern for all members.

“Our priority will be to ensure that the school maintains this status across future inspections.”

The inspection, which was carried out by Andrew Sowerby and Des Burns gave the school top marks across all inspection areas including quality of Catholic leadership, welcome community and welfare.

In the report they said: “All who attend the school are immediately struck by the safe and caring environment that the school provides so that both parents and children all feel like they are members of one very happy family.

“The children love coming to school. This was expressed clearly by the children who skip into class each day and especially the Faith Council who are tremendous ambassadors for the school.

“They all expressed how very proud they are of all the opportunities given to them.

“Pupils are friendly, polite and welcoming and their behaviour at all times is exemplary.

“They work very hard to fulfil the high expectations of the adults who work with them.”

The inspection, which was carried out on March 25, praised the school in a number of areas including the outstanding quality of RE teaching, leadership and management of the school including the Governing Body and acts of collective worship.

Parents also said that ‘nothing is too much trouble for the staff.’