DELIGHTED teachers at a Weymouth school have won glowing praise in a government report.

And Ofsted inspectors reckon standards at Wyvern School will get even better when it moves to a new £8 million building next October.

The Chickerell Road school, which opened in 1972, teaches 69 pupils with learning difficulties, aged between two and 19.

Lead Inspector Charles Hackett said: "Wyvern is a good school where the excellent care it takes of its pupils ensures that their personal development is outstanding.

"Pupils grow in confidence and become as independent as possible."

Mr Hackett praises the 'high quality of teachers' planning of lessons' and says the pupils' 'attitudes to work are almost always very positive'.

He added: "The move to a new building will bring about the necessary improvements to the accommodation."

Out of 26 headings in the report, 25 aspects were described as outstanding or good and even the school's lowest score, for monitoring procedures, was judged to be satisfactory.

Acting headteacher Sue Hoxey said: "I'm very proud of the dedicated team that we have here at Wyvern. It's their hard work and commitment that makes us a successful school and I'm extremely pleased that Ofsted recognised this during its time with us."

Chairman of governors Anne Kenwood said: "We're very, very pleased.

"It's down to all the hard work the staff do.

"This new way of inspecting - where the school gets just a couple of days' notice - means that the inspectors see it just as it is.

"Everybody works as a team and works very hard - all the children have different needs, each is so different."

The report is the last to be completed at the school before it moves to a new building currently under construction near Wey Valley School off Dorchester Road.

The move will see pupils benefit from 10 new classrooms, specialist arts and science rooms plus a hydrotherapy pool.

Teachers say it will also help pupil development by allowing them to mix, and share facilities, with students from Wey Valley School and nearby St Nicholas and St Lawrence School.

Senior teacher Steve James said: "As the inspectors say, the move will allow us to become even better."

He added that space was so short at present, the school had had to put up portable buildings in its grounds.