PUPILS and staff have a lot to smile about at Eastcombe Primary, after they ranked 12th in the UK’s top 50 small state schools.

Their position in the list, which was compiled by The Sunday Times newspaper, is an added boost for the school and its 72 pupils, who were also praised on a number of points in their last Ofsted inspection.

The ranking is based on the school’s previous three SATs results, in which 100 per cent of pupils achieved level four in English, maths and science, which is the level the Government expects by the end of primary school.

Head teacher Angela Ayling, who has been at the school for four years, said: “Of course we are very pleased. It has always been our aim to ensure every child fulfils their potential and makes the best progress they can.

“where as some schools try and cram as much revision in before the exams, we always mix ours in with a broad and interesting curriculum, so it is very nice for the children’s work to be recognised in this way.” Other Gloucestershire schools named in the list are Birdlip Primary, who ranked 22nd, and Longney C of E Primary in Gloucester, who came 40th.

Elsewhere, Foxmoor Primary ranked 27th in the paper’s top 500 state primary schools, while Chalford Hill Primary came 141st.