The Daily Echo gives St Francis Church of England Primary School in Valley Park, Chandler's Ford, the chance to showcase its activities...

WHEN Mr Whitbread asked his class of Year 2 children to describe St Francis Church of England Primary School to someone who had never visited they all agreed the school was a "treasure".

The first-time visitor to the school would quickly understand and agree with the opinions of those seven-year-olds.

St Francis is a primary school in Valley Park, Chandler's Ford, opened in November 1991 by the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire. The number of pupils in the popular school quickly grew to its present roll of more than 400.

The final development of the school, completed in 1995, resulted in wonderful buildings, open areas of field and playgrounds, wooded areas, two ponds and the unique feature of a river running under the buildings and through the grounds.

Wonderful buildings are a really good starting point but it's what children and staff achieve in them that makes St Francis such a good school.

This year's Ofsted inspection highlighted the many strengths of the school, the good levels

of achievement reached by all children, and

their very good attitudes and enthusiasm for everything.

The children's behaviour was seen as very good and their care of each other was described as exceptional.

The inspectors found teaching to be consistently good and the leadership of the head teacher was excellent.

Providing the children with a rich and broad

curriculum is a vital part of the work of the school and its many visitors enrich it further.

In the past year these visitors have included music and theatre groups, the fire service and police personnel, a hearing dog and trainer, and a mother with her newborn baby.

All children make visits to particular sites to support their work. Among the many visits this year have been the Search Museum, D-Day Museum, Southampton Art Gallery, a science and technology fair, Winchester Cathedral, the Mary Rose, and Marwell Zoo. During Years 5 and 6 children are given the opportunity to be part of residential

visits to the Isle of Wight and London.

Children have opportunities to extend their learning beyond the school day through various clubs. More than 100 Key Stage 2 children are learning to play a musical instrument and perform regularly in concerts and assemblies.

Clubs include sports, music and French. The Landscape Project, School Council and the Y2 Ground's Club allow children to be involved in developments of the school site. An After School Care Club is planned in the autumn term.

Parents play an important part in school life. Funds raised through the School Association help finance many resources including the ICT suite.

The school continues to develop as a caring and successful community but the final assessment belongs to five-year-old Jacob.

When asked what he would change he replied: "Turn the school into a house so we could all live here, so we could work and play at any time."