A primary school which has had a bumper year has had it capped off with an award. 

Lostock Primary School is our School of the Year. 

The school has had a bumper year, celebrating its 50th anniversary over summer and attaining an Ofsted outstanding rating. 

The nomination, written by children and staff at the school, highlighted the big year Lostock has had and its "exceptional" curriculum which "fosters curiosity and a love of learning". 

The school held a surprise assembly, with everyone in the dark about the award besides a few of the leadership team. 

When it was announced, children gave a deafening cheer as they celebrated the accolade. 

Speaking afterwards, headteacher Vicki Guest said: "We are absolutely over the moon, deeply honoured, and I think we are here to celebrate this award because we have got such an amazing school. 

"We've got amazing children, our children are leaders, we consider ourselves a Lostock family, so everybody feels welcome, children, parents, governors, leaders, staff, everybody together. 

"It is a really, really special school, it has been a really, really special year so we're really, really over the moon to get the award." 

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She added: "It's the icing on the cake for the year, 2024, what a year. We've had the Ofsted inspection where we were graded outstanding, which isn't the be-all and end-all, but it is lovely to get that recognition and acknowledgement for all the hard work that goes into teaching and learning in school. 

"It was our 50 year anniversary as a school, so we had an absolutely amazing celebration week, so that was wonderful. We had a reunion with old staff and colleagues and governors, so it has been a really special year. 

"To top it off with the School of the Year 2024, it is just the cherry on top." 

Deputy headteacher, Hannah Barnes-Gray said: "We are so proud, the whole school today was bursting with pride and they definitely made that known. 

"It is just a huge honour and we're very, very grateful. You could see the staff faces, it was really good to see." 

Head boy, Jamal Hussain, said he was "elated" and praised the staff who "make the curriculum fun yet you still learn".