The Daily Echo focuses on Hamble Primary School who say they have plenty to smile about

It is easy to see why happy faces are in abundance as it is a place where the curriculum is taught in an lively way by enthusiastic teachers.

Acting head teacher Nicky Rickman (see below) who has been at the helm for four terms, believes the secret behind those smiles is the school’s ethos of helping to develop children along with academic high standards.

Their success is based on four key values: communication, learning, informed health and community. These aims are based upon the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Oxfam’s definition of Global Citizenship.

Mrs Rickman said: “I hope pupils know that the staff really care about the children as a person as well as their academic standards.

“We want to develop them as people. We want our children to go out ready for secondary school and ready for the world as responsible well-rounded young people.”

In the Hamble Lane school’s last Ofsted report in March 2012, it received a ‘Good’ rating, with an outstanding mark for the behaviour and safety of pupils. Lead Inspector Hazel Callaghan, said: “An outstanding feature of the school is the behaviour and attitudes of the pupils. Pupils are very proud of their school and their part in making it a successful and happy community.

“They have a well-developed awareness of how to keep themselves and others safe and behave extremely well both in lessons and around the school.”

Hamble Primary School was opened in 1953 and has 303 pupils aged between 4 and 11. It is situated adjacent to the Royal Victoria Country Park.

Hamble Primary School is keen for pupils to get to grips with technology.

As part of this the school has created a new coding club which was put by popular demand, after pupils enjoyed coding so much in their IT classes that they asked for their own club.

Infact it is run by pupils and the teachers at the school have been impressed with how well it is going.

Year five and six teacher at Hamble Primary School, James Hudson, said: “Because coding is a thing that the government is pushing, it is something we really want to do. 

“They are picking up the skills really quickly and they have done fantastically well.”

The school's extensive grounds are used particularly well by our Year R children, who love spending time in our Woodland area - many imaginary campfires are made, dens built and trees climbed.