A PRIMARY School has received a Quality Mark award for its high standards in the basic structures of primary education. Bassingbourn Primary School received the award from the Basic Skills Agency for its standards in literacy and numeracy. Pupils Peter B

A PRIMARY School has received a Quality Mark award for its high standards in the basic structures of primary education.

Bassingbourn Primary School received the award from the Basic Skills Agency for its standards in literacy and numeracy.

Pupils Peter Bloor and Grace Ash of Year 6, and Mia Buck and Julian Spence of Year 1 acted as the school's 'ambassadors' and gave the Basic Skills assessor Judith Osler a guided tour.

Head teacher Jane Murray said she was thrilled with the award and success of Mrs Olser's visit.

She said: "The assessor came back from the tour with the biggest smile on her face.

"She told me that the four children had been the best guides out of all the schools she had visited.

"She even sent them a thank you card saying they had made her job so much easier - I'm so pleased.

"We have been preparing for this assessment for 18 months.

"Everyone feels very special as their work has been recognised as being of a good standard."

Pupil Grace Ash is also pleased that her school has received the Quality Mark.

She said: "I'm ecstatic. I think we deserve to get the award as we have all worked so hard to achieve it."

The school had to provide an evidence folder showing that it had met specific criteria in 10 elements.

The required information included past results, teaching targets, and tracking of pupils' progress.

Mrs Murray believed the pupils had the necessary knowledge and pride to show visitors around, being at the heart of the school. She intends to form a team of Bassingbourn tour guides from across the school, and she already has a large number of keen children.