A PRIMARY school is heralding a 'change in culture' as the reason behind an upturn in results across the board.

Pupils at Queen Emma's school, Witney, achieved improved Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 SATS results in every measure in 2018.

It is a far cry from October 2015, when the school was judged as requiring improvement by Ofsted - the same month Queen Emma's was taken over by home grown trust The MILL Academy.

Since then, the trust has urged staff to focus on inclusion, mental health and wellbeing as much as results through a series of initiatives.

The school's PTA, Friends of Queen Emma's, organises regular events, while a focus on outdoor learning has been introduced.

Queen Emma's was even mentioned by Witney MP Robert Courts in parliament for their part in the 'Daily Mile', a national scheme urging children and staff to complete one mile per day.

This month saw more success with the school winning best float at the Witney Carnival, and director of education Victoria Musson believes this showed the culture change is reaping rewards.

She said: "We don't send children out of classrooms, we've got rid of isolation rooms.

"The win at the carnival was symbolic of the cultural shift we've had and how many parents turned out.

"Staff have had such a challenge and it's taken blood, sweat and tears to get to this point."