Liphook Infant School executive headteacher Michele Frost and infant school head Greg Braham said they were “thrilled” after an ‘inadequate’ Ofsted grade became an ‘outstanding’ grading just six months later after a rigorous Ofsted inspection in July.

In a joint statement, they and the head of Liphook Junior School, Jacky Taylor, said: “We are thrilled Liphook Infant School has achieved outstanding in every area and is therefore outstanding overall.

“Liphook Junior School achieved outstanding in December when the infants received an Inadequate grade due to discrepancies in safeguarding.

“We were devastated and immensely grateful to our staff, parents and school community for their continued support and belief in us.

“As a federation of Liphook Infant School and Liphook Junior School, which has the same leadership team and governing body, we scrutinised our safeguarding procedures and undertook a thorough audit.

“We wasted no time in addressing any concerns and the ambition and hard work of the whole school was instrumental in ensuring our safeguarding practices are now worthy of being shared across and beyond the county.

“We are an outward looking school and constantly review our practice and seek ways to further improve.

“As a professional learning community we use evidence-based research from outside organisations to improve and enhance pupils’ academic and pastoral development.”