TWO village schools are celebrating becoming class acts.

Netherthong Primary and Brockholes CE (VC) Junior and Infant schools have both just been awarded the coveted outstanding grades in every single category by Ofsted.

Staff at the two schools are over the moon – especially as the reports show big improvements from their previous inspections.

In October 2009, Netherthong was only graded as ‘satisfactory’ by the inspectors. However, the latest report describes the rural school with 210 pupils in glowing terms. It states:

“The school is outstandingly well-led by a head teacher and deputy who have driven improvements at a rapid pace.

“Staff work exceptionally well as a team that has a clear and relentless focus on improving outcomes for all pupils

“The quality of the teaching is outstanding. All staff, including teaching assistants, know the pupils exceptionally well.

“Pupils feel safe at school and standards of behaviour in lessons and around the school are exemplary. Pupils get on very well together and their relationship with all staff is superb.

“The school places great emphasis on promoting pupil’s spiritual, moral and social development.

“Parents have very positive views about the school. The governing body supports the school exceptionally well.”

The only improvement Ofsted could suggest was that teachers should make sure pupils corrected their spelling mistakes.

Headteacher Catherine Jubbs said: “We are all just delighted with the report, which shows how hard everybody has worked.

“We are a strong team and we work really well together, along with all the parents and governors. We’re just delighted.”

The inspectors were just as complimentary about the 167-pupil Brockholes school, which has improved from ‘good’ in May 2008. The report stated:

“Pupils make outstanding progress from their different starting points.

“The school is very effective in supporting all groups of pupils, including disabled pupils and those with special educational needs and those entitled to the pupil premium.

“Teachers devise an excellent range of interesting and inspiring activities to extend learning.

“Pupils have exemplary attitudes towards their learning. They enjoy school, feel safe, behave outstandingly well and look after each other with care and understanding.

“The headteacher, senior leaders and governing body provide inspirational leadership and there is a strong, shared vision throughout the whole staff team.

“The governing body has an outstanding grasp of the school’s strengths and weaknesses. There is a clear focus on maintaining the school’s strong Christian ethos.”

Claire Thomas, head teacher of the 167-pupil school, said: “We are delighted. The things Ofsted picked out are things we have been working on to promote independent learning, so the children leave us ready to face high school and the future.

“I have a brilliant team of staff who work very, very hard, along with wonderful governors and very supportive parents.

“We are still small enough to be a family where everybody knows everybody else and the children respect each other and all the adults.”

The reports come at a time of increasing financial pressure for some village schools.

Although Netherthong and Brockholes are not greatly affected, many small village schools around Huddersfield are due to suffer considerable financial cuts following changes in the Kirklees school funding formula.

The council claims that its hands are tied and that it is simply conforming to the government’s new simplified rules for allocating school funds.