ONE saved from closure and making outstanding progress, the other rated as one of the country's best - two very different schools have been praised by Government inspectors.

Pupils, staff and governors from the Wyche CE Primary School and Malvern Hills Primary School are elated about positive Ofsted reports.

The Wyche is believed to be only the second school in the country to receive an 'outstanding' rating in all 26 sections of its report since a new grading system was introduced last September.

After visiting the school in May, inspector Andrew Watters wrote: "This is an outstanding school where pupils' personal, social and emotional development goes hand in hand with the pursuit of high standards."

He praised headteacher Geoff Rutherford's "excellent" leadership and described pupils' behaviour and attitudes as exemplary.

Mr Rutherford, who has been at the school 11 years, six as head, said: "In many ways the report is a validation of the philosophy that schools should seek first and foremost to be communities that nurture and develop the needs of the whole child, rather than being viewed as academic institutions that focus simply on delivering the National Curriculum.

"To this end, the statement that 'the children love being at school and have great fun' is probably, for me, the most heart-warming sentence in the whole Ofsted report."

Malvern Hills Primary School, which won its appeal against closure only a few months ago, has been freed from special measures after its latest Ofsted inspection.

A report written by inspector Brian Cartwright, after a visit in May, awarded the school an overall rating of 'good'. He said the school had made outstanding progress since the previous inspection and had the potential to improve further.

"Good pupil achievement throughout the school is at the heart of this improvement," said the report.

It also describes "a calm and positive learning atmosphere", where children's laughter could be heard around the school.

Children's behaviour was overwhelmingly good, thanks to good classroom management and a consistent approach by staff.

The report said headteacher Andrew Chilman had led the school "from failure to success".

Governors, who fought tooth and nail to keep the school open, were praised for making the local community aware of the good local school in its midst.

Pupil numbers, which were falling while the school was under threat of closure, are now increasing.

The school has been removed from special measures in a remarkably short time-scale of just seven months and will no longer need monitoring inspections.

"This is wonderful news for a very good community school that is now in a strong position to flourish further," said Mr Chilman.