SCHOOLCHILDREN enjoyed tea with the mayor to celebrate their school being rated good by Ofsted.

Fourteen pupils and staff from Coombe Road Primary met Brighton and Hove Mayor Mo Marsh at the town hall for a celebratory lunch.

The Moulsecoomb school, was rated good by Ofsted inspectors in June after being judged as requiring improvement in its last two reports.

The pupils, nominated by their teachers for the visit, got up close with the mayor’s 130-year-old mace and tried on the original 24-carat Hove mayoral chains before enjoying sweets, chocolate and drinks in the mayor’s parlour.

Robin Webb, 11, who got to carry the gold-plated silver mace made for Queen Victoria’s jubilee, said: “It was very cool, but very heavy – especially for a child.

“I have really enjoyed my visit.”

Jazmin James, 11, said: “The mayor’s parlour was really pretty.”

Headteacher Vicky Phillips said she was thrilled with the Milner Road school’s latest Ofsted.

She said: “The staff are absolutely delighted. We have had a very tough couple of years where we have had to change things and staff have been fully on board.

“It is all down to the wonderful, staff, parents and children, who have been incredibly supportive of all the change.

“Today it is an absolute honour to be at the town hall and celebrate our successes, and we just hope to continue now on our upward journey.”

The report praised school bosses for “reversing a significant decline” in learning and behaviour and “raising expectations, re-establishing pupil’s good behaviour and improving staff morale”.

It also highlighted rising standards in English and maths across all year groups.

Inspectors recommended an improvement to teaching to deepen pupils learning and push more able pupils, and to develop middle management to check the quality of teaching and learning.

Cllr Marsh said: “I am delighted to be here today to congratulate Coombe Road School and everybody in the community for a really hard effort.

“Now the school is officially a good school as rated by Ofsted, and as a long term governor of the school it is my pleasure to host this reception as mayor.

“I wish them every success, they have really deserved their summer holiday.”