A SCHOOL which looks after children from the military community has been acclaimed for its ‘compassionate’ learning environment.

Ofsted has rated RAF Benson Community Primary School ‘good’ in a report released on Monday, maintaining its previous standard.

The school, at the RAF base near Wallingford, looks after almost 200 children - most of whom have at least one parent in the services.

Following a visit in July, an inspector for the education regulator said: “Through your dedicated leadership, you have developed a strong, compassionate staff team who are determined to do their best for all pupils.

“All staff understand the specific emotional and practical needs of pupils who have parents on long-term deployment.”

Ofsted noted that many children join and leave the school at different times of year as their families move around.

It said the school has ‘good transition arrangements’ in place to help them adjust, adding: “Pupils are assessed efficiently when they arrive so that any gaps in knowledge or skills are identified.

“Leaders have refined the school’s systems to help pupils catch up quickly. Pupils make rapid progress in reading, writing and mathematics when they first join the school.”

The report noted exclusion rates had been previously high, but congratulated leaders on turning this around and improving behaviour with new policies.

The inspector also praised staff for creating ‘a strong culture of safeguarding that permeates the school.’