A balloon release seemed a fitting way to celebrate a high-flying school’s Ofsted success.

Offham Primary School in Church Road, Offham, held a celebration day last Monday to mark being judged as Outstanding by inspectors.

Pupils watched a nail-biting session of circus skills where some had to cover their eyes as headteacher Ruth Powell narrowly avoided some large knives juggled above her, before all 211 students got to release a balloon into the air carrying the slogan Be the Best and the school’s logo.

Parents also popped in for a barbecue and to be shown the circus ropes by their children.

Mrs Powell, who had also celebrated her 40th birthday the day before, said: “It has been something of a whirlwind.

"It was a fantastic day. The whole day just reflected the community spirit at Offham and why we got outstanding. The majority of the parents came too."

The Ofsted report said it was a ‘very happy family school’ and found it was outstanding in every category, praising the children’s behaviour and attainment and relationships within the school.