AFTER a slam-dunk of a year, the New Year has seen West Meon school catapualted into a state school top ten compiled by one of the UK’s top ‘glossy’ magazines.

Tatler focuses on fashion, politics, and society events and lifestyle, and the Church of England school in Church Lane with 84 pupils made it to number five in the magazine’s nationwide top ten.

As well as talking to parents and head teacher of six years Julie Kelly, the school’s academic record for the past year was also considered.

The 2016 Key Stage 2 results were slam-dunk smashing, said Tatler, putting the school in the top five per cent in the country for reading; 100 per cent of Year 1 pupils aced their phonics test, the article added.

Julie, who plans to stay at the school until she retires, said: “The parents are absolutely thrilled about the recognition, and it’s very nice to be recognised for our academic achievements and standards as well as our activities.”

Activities include night-time badger-watching expeditions in a local nature reserve, a chess club, inter-school sports competitions, and swimming at Bedales school in Steep.

More than three-quarters of the junior age pupils learn a music instrument; and those who do something worthy of note, for example excel in a lesson, or are polite or helpful, get a mention in Julie’s ‘Boom Book.’

She said: “They get a ‘boom’ sticker to wear as well, and at the Friday assembly we celebrate everything that’s been achieved in the previous week, and the names of those in the Boom Book are read out, and there’s a count down, a hand clap and big Boom shout out.”

Working parents also praised the school’s ‘wraparound care’ – youngsters can be dropped off at 7.30am for cereal and toast in the breakfast club and pick up again at 6pm.

Parents are reminded that Sunday, January 15, is the closing date for school places for September 2017, and West Meon is happy to accept new pupils from any area, says Julie.

For more information visit the Hampshire County Council website www3.hants.gov.uk and follow the links to the schools admissions page, or contact West Meon school on 01730 829213.