St Mary's? Oh, yes, you're special, too!

St Mary's principal David Cassar wrote to Ofsted after reading in the Observer that Little Common School was one of only.nine primaries in East Sussex to have been awarded Outstanding status.

Now he has received written confirmation that St Mary's was omitted from Ofsted's list in error.

Mr Cassar told the Observer: "Through some error in collating schools, Ofsted missed us off the list!

"After seeing the article about Little Common School we were made aware that the list had been published and wondered why we were not on it as the Ofsted Inspectors had said, only in June, 'St Mary's gives pupils an outstanding education and provides outstanding value for money!'.

"We wrote to HMCI David Bell who replied immediately before Christmas but we did not receive his letter until the school was already in the Christmas recess.

"David Bell said: 'I have reviewed the decisions we made and feel that your school should have been included in the list.

"The school was judged to be outstanding overall and I am pleased to recognise this, I am arranging for your school to be included in the list on our website.

"I am sorry for the initial decision, but congratulate you, your staff, governors and pupils on the school's success'."

Mr Cassar told the Observer: "David Bell's decision has brought enormous delight to everyone at St Mary's and to be named one of only a few outstanding educational institutions in the country, is indeed an honour and a testament to the hard work and dedication of staff and governors over a number of years.

"St Mary's joins Little Common, St Richard's and Glyne Gap who have now been listed in this category. What a wonderful achievement for a small town like Bexhill."

Last summer Ofsted report on St Mary's said: "Leadership and management at St Mary's School are outstanding overall.

"The principal has extensive responsibilities beyond the school as he also runs the charitable trust which supports the school.

"He carries out his duties with extraordinary inspiration, diligence and skill, and receives terrific support from governors and from the senior leadership group.

"Those who form the group are very knowledgeable and they share the principal's passion and commitment to raise standards even further.

"Together, the governors, principal and senior staff have led significant school improvements. They aspire to much more and know what they need to do.

'Governance of the school is outstanding. The governing body and its supporting committees keep themselves very well informed, give the school a very clear steer and make challenging demands on the senior staff to drive the school forward.

'There was much camaraderie in evidence during the inspection. Every member of staff is consulted about the future of the school, as are parents, pupils and students.

'The school provides an outstanding level of care, guidance and support. Education, therapy, medical and care staff work together very closely so that pupils' needs are recognised, shared and managed exceedingly well. Consequently, pupils and students are in the best possible position to learn. The school, college and residential environments are run very effectively so that they are very safe and secure, and pupils and students flourish.

"Staff follow child protection procedures to the letter. Pupils report that they feel very well looked after and know what to do if they have concerns or worries'.

The chairman of the school's governors, Bishop David Wilcox, said: "We are absolutely thrilled about it.

"This is a list of all schools, so for a special school of St Mary's kind with children with learning disabilities it is quite amazing really.

"It has got a very committed staff and an inspirational leader in David Cassar.

"I just love being associated with it and we are very proud about this particular achievement."