This is a text-only version of an article first published on Wednesday, 17 July 2013. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
PUPILS from St Laurence School , Warborough, near Wallingford in Oxfordshire were excited to witness a helicopter landing on their school playing field on Friday morning.
The helicopter, a Merlin, from nearby RAF Benson, paid a surprise visit arranged by Headteacher, Nicole Cooper.
The three man crew stayed for two hours, allowing all the children and staff the opportunity to explore inside, sit in the cockpit and to try on helmets and uniform.
Ms Cooper commented "I'd like to thank Chris Gamble, Nick Summers and Jay Robertson for giving the children such a wonderful experience.
It was a lovely treat to end a fantastic term for the school. "Earlier in the week the school were pleased to learn that they had a 100 per cent pass rate at Level Four for the external SATS exams the pupils in Year Six sit at the end of Key Stage Two, together with a pass rate of over 50 per cent at Level Five for both English and Maths.
This follows an Ofsted report rating St Laurence's as a "good" school with "outstanding" pupil behaviour. Brian Newey, Chair of Governors, praised all the staff, saying "I am so pleased that the inspector recognised and acknowledged the tireless teamwork of everyone involved.
Pupil behaviour was described as 'exemplary' and the inspector highlighted the good subject knowledge of both teachers and teaching assistants which ensures all pupils make good progress.
This has been borne out by the excellent SATS results achieved by our Year 6 pupils. " ;