West Oxford Community Primary school has served generations of families living in and around Osney, Botley and North Hinksey since 1913.

Headteacher Julie St Clair Hoare, who took charge nine years ago, said: “Most of our pupils come from the area and so 80 per cent walk to school.

“When it snowed in January, we were one of the few schools to stay open, because children pulled on their wellies and walked in.

“But even though they live so close, we have a good cross-section of the community.

“We have families who have been here forever, but also quite an ethnic mix, because of people who have been drawn to the area.”

She added: “The big thing here is inclusion. It’s about getting all children to aim high and attain high standards.”

The school is one of just four in the county to be awarded the National Association for Able Children in Education’s challenge award, changing the way teaching is delivered for all pupils.

In each lesson, pupils choose whether to aim for bronze, silver, gold or platinum stars for different levels of attainment.

A bronze target might be using capital letters at the beginning of sentences, while a platinum star would go to a pupil who had mastered perfect punctuation.

Ms St Clair Hoare said the scheme encouraged pupils to aim higher and stretch themselves in all their lessons.

She said: “It offers competition with yourself. It gets pupils to aim as high as they can, without worrying about what others are doing.

“It gives a challenge to every child in every classroom, and we have found it has really lifted up the results.”

The school also hosts ‘multiple intelligences’ days, each focusing on a particular area of aptitude. Themes include encouraging the children to be ‘word smart’, ‘body smart’, ‘music smart’ and ‘people smart’.

West Oxford Primary has also started holding family learning weeks to encourage parents to come in and learn alongside their children at Saturday workshops.

Music is encouraged across the school, with every Year Five child learning a brass instrument, and the school running both an orchestra and a Glee Club-style choir.

Sport includes netball, football, ballet and tennis.

Ms St Clair Hoare said: “Parents always say they like the friendly atmosphere here.

“The staff are very approachable, and the parents themselves are very friendly.

“At the beginning of the year we had a new parents’ picnic, and that is a nice occasion to welcome new families into our community.”

Ofsted agrees. When inspectors last visited the school two years, they reported: “Pupils’ personal development and well-being are outstanding. They grow into mature, happy and confident pupils.

“The school’s inclusive ethos, linked to the excellent care, guidance and support provided by all the adults make a very positive contribution to pupils’ excellent spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.”