ONE of Oxford’s smallest primary schools, St Michael’s sometimes feels like it belongs in the countryside, rather than on one of the city’s busiest roads.

Headteacher Sue Grundy, who arrived four years ago, said the size of the school and its small catchment area around Marston Road creates a unique atmosphere.

She said: “It really has a real village feel to it, with a very close-knit community.

“It is surprising how many families live in very close proximity to the school.

“Many of them have lived in the area for a long time, and it is not a particularly transient population in this part of Oxford.

“You get the sense people look after each other and that carries over into the school.”

The school’s results have improved markedly in recent years.

In 2010, 80 per cent of 11-year-olds achieved the expected Level Four in both maths and English, compared to 60 per cent two years’ previously.

More pupils are reaching Level Five in the subjects than ever before.

Mrs Grundy said: “I did not feel expectations of the children were high enough, or that aspirational targets were being set for them.

“Teachers’ expectations are now much higher, and that has taken its effect. We have raised standards considerably, and have made huge progress in our Key Stage Two results.

“We have put the focus on learning and teaching, and on children understanding where they are in their learning, and what their next steps will be.”

Among new initiatives to boost performance is ‘The Big Write’, launched last month to improve literacy.

Once a week, children across the school think about what they want to write about, then spend 45 minutes working on it in silence.

They are encouraged to focus on ‘VCOP’, the main elements of their writing: vocabulary, connectives, openings and punctuation.

Mrs Grundy said: “It is quite amazing the amount the children are writing, the quality of it and how much they are enjoying it.

“We have still got more to do in terms of standards.

“We will be setting even higher targets next year.”

The Catherine Wheel, the school’s new foundation stage unit, opened in 2009, and work is continuing to improve the grounds around the school building, supported by PTA funding.

In the longer term, the governors have secured planning permission for a new hall, but need to get funding.

With 45 per cent of pupils from ethnic minorities, sharing 30 different cultural backgrounds and 15 languages, the school has also fostered strong international links.

Through the British Council’s Comenius programme, St Michael’s has partner schools in Turkey, Germany, Sicily and Wales, and pupils visited Munich before Christmas to meet their international counterparts.

Trainee teachers from Zurich University visit twice a year, younger children learn Italian and the older pupils are taught French.

YEAR Five teacher Anne Perry, pictured left, has led the school’s environmental work, which last year resulted in St Michael’s being awarded eco-school status.

New to the school last year, but with previous experience teaching in France and Italy, she oversaw pupils’ involvement in the Children’s International Arts Organisation’s ark project outside the University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, and went on to work with youngsters in deciding how to make the school more eco-friendly, including running an after-school club.

She said: “The children have got really into it. They are monitoring us now.

“If I open a window when the radiator is still on, they tell me off!”

With pupils, she has built a ‘bug hotel’ to encourage bio-diversity outside and drawn up a set of principles for pupils to follow to save energy.

After being awarded a bronze award by Eco-Schools last year, the group is now aiming for silver.

Mrs Perry added: “It is a lovely place to work, and a really happy school. It has a real family feel to it, with a very supportive staff and gorgeous children.”

Headteacher Sue Grundy said: “She is a very dynamic teacher, with a real passion for everything she does.

“That comes through both in the classroom and outside lessons.

“She is one of two teachers who put on a production of The Tempest last year, and her passion was evident throughout.

“Even though she was new to the school last year, she has taken on a whole school project and that is quite a difficult thing to do.”