Backwell Junior School is a good school where pupils enjoy their learning and feel safe and secure, Ofsted inspectors have revealed.

Inspectors visited Backwell Church of England Junior School earlier this year and said that pupils achieved well and generally reached standards in their work that were significantly above average.

The report also said that pupils' concentration in lessons was very good and that students got on well with each other and with the adults in the school and they said they felt safe.

Inspectors also said that the 221 pupils were actively engaged in their learning and this helped them to work hard and to enjoy most of their lessons.

They added that students were very aware of the importance of a healthy diet and of taking plenty of exercise, something which was reflected in the good take up of healthy school meals and high levels of involvement in sporting activities.

The inspection team, headed by lead inspector Grahame Sherfield, also found that parents were strongly supportive of the school.

One parent told inspectors that they were looking forward to their younger two children starting at Backwell Juniors, knowing it was such a good school.

Another parent praised the school as a "warm and friendly environment" with "committed teaching and management". Staff have recently introduced new approaches to help pupils to become more involved in assessing their own work and in identifying how they might improve.

Inspectors also said that teachers' subject knowledge is good and that support staff make an effective contribution to the learning of individual pupils and of small groups, particularly in improving their writing.

The report also highlights areas where further improvements could be made including more use of the range of opportunities for writing across the subjects of the curriculum in order to speed up progress in writing.

Inspectors also recommended strengthening the role of the governing body in improving the school, by developing its capacity to hold the school to account for its performance.

Head teacher Alex Bell said: "We are very pleased with the report and feel it accurately reflects all our hard work and effort towards real school improvement."

Chair of governors, Carol Hellen, said: "All members of staff should be really encouraged by the report and feel that all the hard work they put into teaching and running the school has now been recognised.

"Pupils and parents also need to feel that they have played their part in making the inspection a success."