FIVE schools in Suffolk have been praised as outstanding after inspection reports showed they were extremely effective and had high-achieving pupils.The annual list of particularly successful schools and colleges is published today by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted).

FIVE schools in Suffolk have been praised as outstanding after inspection reports showed they were extremely effective and had high-achieving pupils.

The annual list of particularly successful schools and colleges is published today by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted).

Pot Kiln Primary School in Great Cornard, St Margaret's Community Primary School in Lowestoft, Bures Church of England Primary School, Bramford C of E Primary School and Sir Robert Hitchams C of E Primary School in Framlingham, are among the 457 “outstanding” schools, colleges and other educational institutions across England included on the list.

Ofsted said schools on the 2004/05 list stand out as being extremely effective because they provide an excellent or very good quality of education across the full range of their work and pupils are achieving well. These schools are invariably very effectively led, it added.

For Jon Eden, headteacher of Bramford C of E Primary School, near Ipswich, it recognises the achievement of everyone at the school, from the 205 pupils to the caretaker, the support staff to the cook, over last four years.

He said: “It's for the last year but I see it as more than just one year's work. We have had four years of intensive improvement. The children have achieved well as they are happy, confident learners taught by hugely skilled teachers and the support staff are tremendous. Learning is both challenging and exciting for the children - and that's what makes our school a success.

“We have got the formal curriculum, which we are trying to make enjoyable, and there's a strong focus on literacy and numeracy. At the same time sport is very important in the school and, if the children are active, it pays dividends in learning. There is also a big emphasis on music.”

Jenny Elphick, headteacher of Sir Robert Hitcham Primary School, said: “We are one big family here and this honour reflects well on everyone.

“As a Church of England voluntary aided school we are at the heart of our community and everyone including teachers, teaching assistants, governors, pupils and parents all play their part in making the school so successful.

“We are especially proud of our information technology section and the school's website.”

St Margaret's Community Primary School headteacher Jackie Cutchey said: “I am so very pleased and also very proud of everyone associated with the school as this honour is down to teamwork.

“It is also reassuring to have external inspectors visit us and be so impressed by everything they have seen.”

Christine Furniss, headteacher at Bures Primary School, said: "To be named one of the outstanding schools is very pleasing and I also think reassuring.

"Everybody at the school works very hard - we have wonderful children to work with and and a committed and dedicated teaching staff.

"We try and give the children an enriched curriculum and it really is a school where every child matters."

Jan Parsons, headteacher at Pot Kiln Primary School in Great Cornard, said: "This is just fantastic news. The reason why we are on the list is because my staff and the governors work very hard for the children of this school and we have a very good relationship with parents.

"The fact that we are one of the only schools in Suffolk to get this recognition is a wonderful achievement for our school."