THE sense of accomplishment is clear for all to see at Wynstones School in Whaddon after staff and pupils achieved outstanding ratings in almost every area of their latest inspection.

Everything from pupils’ personal and creative development, to the breadth and quality of the curriculum is highly commended at the independent school, which offers an alternative to mainstream education within the Steiner Waldorf fellowship.

Conducted in November by the School Inspection Service (SIS), which grades schools operating under Steiner guidelines, the report opens by praising the overall quality of education as ‘excellent’.

"In particular, the curriculum and other activities are of high quality," it reads.

"Pupils are well cared for and appreciate the support they receive from teachers with respect to both their personal and academic development."

Elsewhere, teachers are described as ‘well qualified and experienced’, which enables them to ‘teach with confidence and respond readily to their pupils’ expectations.’ The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the children is also highly praised, as is the school’s successful anti-bullying policy, which emphasises the importance of mutual respect.

Summing up his report, Dr Martin Bradley, inspector, gives equal applause to the effectiveness of the Early Years Foundation Stage, which he notes as being ‘good with several outstanding features’.

"The outcomes for children in the EYFS are outstanding within the context of the Steiner Waldorf curriculum," he writes.

"They develop good skills for the future, especially in their social skills and attitudes towards developing new ideas."

Among the areas where improvements have been suggested, however, include the development of a central record of pupils’ progress and further effort to ensure rigorous teacher appraisals.

Wynstones management coordinator and teacher, Ken Power, said: "We are extremely pleased with the results.

"One of the most interesting things is our kindergarten result as we do not agree with formal learning for children until they are over six and encourage them to learn through creative play, so we are pleased it was rated as outstanding."