Neighbours of Ann Widdecombe saw a man carrying a ‘wooden stick’ near her home on the day she was murdered, it is understood. 

A man is believed to have driven nearly 300 miles to the 78-year-old former MP’s Dartmoor home on the morning of her death. 

Neighbours claimed they saw him putting ‘some kind of wooden stick’ into the passenger side of a red car before driving off. 

Police were today continuing to search the home of the man, who was arrested by armed officers on suspicion of murdering Ms Widdecombe. 

Forensic experts remain inside the mid-terraced address on a council estate in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, with uniformed officers on guard outside.

Neighbours said around a dozen armed officers surrounded the property last night before knocking loudly at the door – an hour before England’s World Cup match against Norway kicked off.

The suspect, one of three brothers who locals described as a ‘loner’ who normally rarely left the house since his father died last year, answered the door and was arrested.

One of the man’s brothers is believed to live in Devon, while a second brother and his mother are said to live locally.

This afternoon, the house remained cordoned off and guarded by police, with a dark blue tactical support unit, another police van and a police four-wheel drive vehicle parked outside.

Forensic officers were seen heading into the house, after it was confirmed there is no evidence to suggest the murder was politically motivated

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Ann Widdecombe was killed in her home on Wednesday last week and discovered 24 hours later

Shocked neighbours had gathered outside in the sunshine to watch as officers in white forensic suits continued to search the address.

Courtney Foster, 25, who lives next door with partner Rayed Astle, 26, said: ‘We were in the kitchen and just saw the officers running up. Some were armed. Then they banged on the door very loudly.

‘They didn’t smash the door down because he opened it. They asked him his name, he confirmed it and they took him away.’

Ms Foster said she was also concerned about the man’s dog but that she understands police also took the pet.

She added: ‘There were about 12 officers and quite a few cars. It was quite a shock.’

Describing the neighbour, Mr Astle said that he had barely spoken to anyone since his father, who he had moved in with around a year ago, died last December.

He said: ‘He was someone you’d have a conversation with but that changed after his dad died. He became very quiet. He kept himself to himself and wouldn’t really speak to anyone.’

Ms Foster added: ‘He was always in the house and I don’t think he worked.’

Other neighbours said the man’s red Vauxhall Corsa ‘barely moved’ from the drive – to the extent weeds were growing on it.

Another local said: ‘He is one of three brothers but the others moved out, so he was living on his own.

‘His father died before Christmas and I think it affected him. He seemed to change because he became even more introverted.

‘You would barely see him – to the point where you’d presume the house was unoccupied.

‘Now and again you’d see the upstairs light on but that was it.’

One of the man’s brothers is believed to live in Devon, while a second brother and his mother are said to live locally.

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: ‘The police came at about 9.10pm. 

‘There were about a dozen officers armed with guns, both in the front garden and the back garden.

‘They knocked on the door and he opened up. They asked his name and he was taken away.

‘It was quite quiet, really. There was no commotion. Everyone was watching the England game, so I think the whole thing passed people by.

‘It was very quiet how they turned up. There were no lights, no noise – our Ring doorbell didn’t even go off.’

Neighbour Kingsley Whybrow, 29, said: ‘I’ve never seen anyone come in and out of that house, ever.

‘He drove a red Corsa that was parked outside – it had started to rust and there was vegetation growing on it.

‘They came at about 3am to tow it away.’

A local who saw the man taken away said he appeared ‘calm’ as he was escorted out by two police.

‘He was calm and was led to a van. He had one officer on either side holding an arm each and then they put him in the back of the marked van.’ 

Neighbours told The Telegraph that the suspect was one of three boys and was believed to be the youngest of his siblings.

His mother is understood to have worked at a school as a teaching assistant for at least part of her career.

One woman, who did not wish to be named and said her child had gone to school with at least one of the boys, said: ‘They were three lovely boys as children, all very well brought up.

‘At school he was timid, well-mannered, reserved. He was one of three boys.

‘The eldest boy is in his forties I think.’

‘I’m very shocked if he has been arrested for something like that.’

Another local in Rotherham said: ‘I never dreamt it would be linked to what happened to Ann Widdecombe. That’s very far away from us.

‘I was about to watch the football and I could hear a helicopter overhead and my wife shouting ‘look what is happening at the front of house’. I saw many undercover police outside. I knew they were not neighbours coming to visit!

‘Then on the back garden I saw 2 police officers with big guns on the man’s neighbours garden. We just watched and then it went quiet. So I just went back to watch the game. My neighbour said they took away a red Corsa around 3am’.

It’s believed he has lived there around a year. ‘I had only seen him about twice,’ they said. 

Speaking at a press conference today, detectives confirmed the suspected attack was ‘not politically motivated’ – despite counter-terrorism officers being involved in the raid.

The former MP and MEP was found dead by her gardener at her cottage in Haytor, Devon on Thursday morning.

Officers detained a white British man on Saturday and he remains in custody.

A cordon remains Ms Widdecombe’s bungalow in Haytor, Dorset, and police said locals will notice a heightened presence for the next few days

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Floral tributes have been left on the grass outside her home, including a framed photograph of Ms Widdecombe

Detectives said earlier the case is ‘moving at significant pace’ and ‘our priority remains identifying those responsible’ for Ms Widdecombe’s death.

Officers at Devon and Cornwall Police had initially arrested a 26-year-old man – but he was released yesterday morning and is said to no longer form part of the investigation.

Speaking this morning, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman said there was no information to suggest the incident was terror-related but officers remain ‘open-minded’ about the motive.

He added that police were not looking for anyone else in connection with the alleged murder.

This is despite reports earlier today that the force had been hunting the driver of a ‘suspicious car’ seen near Ms Widdecombe’s home in Haytor.

A manager of a garage in Haytor said he had alerted the force after his colleague noticed ‘something out of the ordinary’ at around 9am on Wednesday, with a dark VW Golf Mk4 reportedly parked in a ‘strange place’.

He said: ‘[The Golf] was at the top of the lane near Ann’s place. If it was a local they would have parked in the car park or one of the lay-bys.

‘He was doing up his walking boots. He was in his late 20s, maybe early 30s. He was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. I remember thinking ‘Why is he parked there?’ He was halfway out the lay-by.

‘It didn’t look like he fitted in. You don’t see many late 20s, early 30s men around here. He was heading up in that direction [of Ann’s house].’

Police asked the garage to provide CCTV of the vehicle but they did not have any, it is understood.

Assistant Chief Constable Longman said this morning there was nothing to suggest a wider threat, adding the force had received more than 120 tips with information from the public.

Detectives believe Ms Widdecombe was attacked at around 12.30pm on Wednesday, just half an hour before she was due to appear on TV.

The Dark is a new ITV crime drama inspired by a best-selling serial killer crime novel.

ITV’s The Dark has arrived, with viewers keen to discover more about its “beautiful” setting.

Following the discovery of a young man’s body in pristine wilderness, it swiftly becomes clear that a serial killer is at large.

This triggers Detective Monica Kennedy’s (portrayed by Laura Donnelly) perilous game of cat and mouse as she embarks on a treacherous investigation to apprehend the murderer.

As ITV audiences prepare to immerse themselves in the unsettling world inspired by GR Halliday’s novel From the Shadows, here’s everything you need to know about The Dark’s filming locations.

Where is ITV’s The Dark filmed?

The Dark on ITV is situated in the rural Scottish Highlands, with production occurring in Greenock, Inverclyde, the broader Glasgow region and neighbouring rural areas.

Last September, actress Donnelly and actor Mark Rowley were photographed filming The Dark with crews at James Watt College’s Finnart Street campus.

The cast were also observed at Annexe Park, Fox Street, Greenock, Newton Street, Cathcart Square, alongside Inverclyde Academy and St Mary’s Primary School.

Numerous sequences were also captured across Greater Glasgow’s rural terrain, which served as a stand-in for the isolated Scottish Highlands.

Writer Matt Hartley revealed to the Royal Television Society that filming in Scotland proved a significant attraction when seeking locations and creative inspiration.

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“I grew up in the Peak District and live in Wales so the space and atmosphere in the ­Highlands and areas around where we were filming was intrinsic to me.

“There’s a line early on that says: ‘This is where people come to bury bodies, not display them.’

“That was one of our key thoughts: this is a world of mystery, where people disappear.”

Meanwhile, French-born director Gilles Bannier held vastly different expectations about filming in Scotland.

He revealed: “It met all my expectations except one.

“I wanted these rolling clouds, amazing mist – the Scottish weather we all know.

“In fact, it was the most beautiful summer and autumn they’ve ever had in Scotland.

“So we were chasing a single cloud, a single drop of rain.”

The Dark premieres on Sunday, July 12, at 9pm, on ITV.

Conor McGregor’s comeback fight lasted all of 69 seconds before he was forced to quit after badly injuring his knee when landing from the first kick he threw

Conor McGregor has teetered over this precipice before and stumbled.

Five years ago he broke his leg so badly he feared he would struggle to play with his four children. He battled back to the cage only via the detours of drink, drugs and a harrowing court case. But his knee collapsed 69 seconds into his comeback fight against Max Holloway and he now finds himself firmly rooted to square one.

McGregor, who turns 38 tomorrow, had promised to roll back the years to his reign as double world champion a decade ago. But he threw a needless kick seconds into his rematch with Holloway and twisted his knee on landing. He struggled gamely through the opening minute before reality set in and he accepted defeat.

I cannot comprehend why he threw such a kick at such a point. His coach John Kavanagh has said they practised it over and over again in the gym, but that is no substitute for an adrenaline-fuelled comeback fight. Granted, most observers felt McGregor’s best chance of victory was an early KO.

But throwing a kick as he did smacked of desperation. Either that, or he was already injured and he threw it as a Hail Mary. Why not work your way into your first fight for half a decade? McGregor will surely be wrestling with such questions now. For the Irishman’s next fight is not with his broken body but with his spiralling mind.

“I am in shock at what has taken place,” he said. “The devil is literally staring at me right in front of my face here but I am not engaging. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here and I can only describe it as hell.”

McGregor had barely hobbled back to his dressing room when fans rushed to conclude he had injured himself before the fight. He appeared to struggle to put his shoes on at Friday’s weigh-in and Sin City’s money flooded in for Holloway in the hours leading up to the first bell.

But the Dubliner insisted: “I was so sharp and ready for this fight I cannot believe what has happened. “The talk of me being off while walking in to the fight is nonsense; I was calm, ready, and confident. I had no injuries going into the fight; I was throwing kicks all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I will overcome this. I will not be deterred, I will return.”

McGregor has one fight left on his lucrative UFC contract. But even if he returns to play salesman again, he may struggle to find a buyer. There had been a huge appetite for this comeback but there may be no such hunger next time.The McGregor era could now be over.

The Dragon’s Eye is a striking cabin in west Wales that provides a staycation that is very much out of the ordinary

Staying in a unique glamping pod will provide an unforgettable stay and there are still outstanding properties to choose from even though we’re heading towards the summer. If you’re searching for a staycation that’s anything but ordinary, this striking lakeside cabin in West Wales is unlike any glamping retreat you’ve seen before.

The Dragon’s Eye is a one-of-a-kind hideaway which has been featured on Cabins in the Wild. The Dragon’s Eye offers a rare chance to reconnect with nature in a setting that’s both memorable and peaceful.

Located in the rolling countryside near Mydroilyn, the solar-powered cabin blends bold, contemporary design with the tranquillity of its natural surroundings. It is a curved, eye-shaped structure that creates a dramatic focal point while framing uninterrupted views across the landscape.

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One of its standout features of the Dragon’s Eye is the rotating king-size bed, allowing guests to wake up to countryside views before turning it away from the windows at night for a cosier feel. As part of its off-grid experience, there’s no television or WiFi, encouraging visitors to fully embrace the peaceful surroundings and enjoy a digital detox.

Outside, guests can soak in a private jacuzzi-style hot tub overlooking the lake, gather around the fire pit beneath star-filled skies or make use of the shared pizza oven and gas barbecue for relaxed alfresco dining.

The Dragon’s Eye Cabin

£503

£435

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Dragon’s Eye is a unique and award-winning wild cabin experience. A three night stay this July is currently on offer at holidaycottages.co.uk

One downside to the Dragon’s Eye is that it is not pet-friendly. If you are after a holiday home that accepts dogs, the Middle Tumble Cottage in Powys accepts two well-behaved dogs and is an excellent choice for a luxury holiday in mid-Wales with friends or family.

Buyagift also offers deals on short getaways, like the Two Night Memorable Break for Two. The Buyagift £249.99 exclusive voucher is flexible hotel gift opens the door to a curated range of 3- and 4-star stays across the UK and beyond.

Guests who have booked the Dragon’s Eye cabin have given it very good reviews. The property is praised for its good location and cool architecture

One visitor said: “Absolutely stunning place had a great time and will never forget it, could not recommend this place enough simply amazing location and cabin.”

Another said: “Great little cosy hut in a beautiful location with a unique architecture. Inside is basic but has what you need. Having a hot tub under the stars is amazing and there’s plenty of good walks/things to do or see in the area.”

A third pleased guest, enthusiastically wrote: “Fantastic place to stay! So picturesque and tranquil, great facilities and star gazing in the hot tub and the huge bed at night was just amazing, plenty of wood provided for the fire. Cant rate this place highly enough! Will be back in the future.”

One visitor pointed out: “Stunning views and very quiet surroundings and the animals are great fun to watch from the hot tub this is an off-grid cabin with no reception or WiFi which I loved but some may struggle.”

Regardless, the Dragon’s Eye cabin is a much-loved property, with another holidaymaker saying: “The Dragon’s Eye is an amazing place to stay. The views from the room and hot tub were unreal especially during sunset.

“Going when we did (out of holiday season) it was quiet with no other guests so was very relaxing. An amazing find and it’s safe to say we’ll be returning.”

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

A major incident has been declared by emergency services with people being told to leave their homes due to a wildfire.

Pictures and videos show a fire spreading on the hillside with smoke seen from miles around. North Wales Police and multiple crews from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service are at the scene near Sychnant Pass on Conwy Mountain.

People are being moved from their homes and people are told not to travel to the area unless essential.

The large-scale wildfire has been burning since the early hours. Firefighters are working in what has been described as “challenging conditions” and are trying to contain the fire and protect surrounding communities, property, infrastructure and the environment.

A spokesperson for Penmaenmawr Town Council said: “Emergency services have advised that residents in parts of Capelulo, around the Fairy Glen public house, should evacuate the area due to smoke. Residents in the affected area are asked to leave safely and follow the instructions of the emergency services on scene.”

The designated place of safety for residents has been moved. Their statement read: “Following advice from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, the place of safety for evacuated residents has now been moved. Penmaenmawr Golf Club is now closed, and The Gladstone is now acting as the designated place of safety for residents affected by the precautionary evacuation.

Jami Jennings from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “Firefighters remain on scene working in challenging conditions to contain the fire and protect surrounding communities, property, infrastructure and the environment. The incident involves a coordinated response from multiple fire appliances, specialist wildfire resources and partner agencies.

“Due to the size and complexity of the incident, operations are expected to continue for some time. We would ask members of the public to avoid the affected area to allow emergency services to work safely and efficiently. Please follow any road closures, evacuation advice or safety instructions issued by the emergency services.“Residents in nearby communities of Dwygyfylchi and Penmaenmawr should keep windows and doors closed if affected by smoke and seek medical advice if they experience breathing difficulties. Motorists are advised to expect delays and consider alternative routes.“Wildfires can spread rapidly, particularly during periods of hot, dry and windy weather. We continue to ask everyone to act responsibly by avoiding the use of disposable barbecues, ensuring cigarettes are fully extinguished and reporting any signs of fire immediately by calling 999.“This response is being managed in close collaboration with our partners, including the police, ambulance service, local authority, landowners and environmental agencies.“We will continue to assess the situation and deploy resources where they are needed most.”

The statement says North Wales Police is coordinating the evacuation strategy for residents who are being told to attend an agreed rest centre.”

“We appreciate the patience and co-operation of the community and would also like to thank our firefighters, control staff, partner agencies and volunteers whose professionalism and commitment are helping to bring this incident under control.“We will provide further updates as more information becomes available through our official communication channels,” it continues.

A spokesperson for North Wales Police said: “The road is currently closed on Conwy Old Road, Dwygyfylchi, due to a fire. Additionally, can local residents please keep all doors and windows closed for the time being.”

You can follow live updates from the incident below:

PAMPLONA, Spain (AP) — A runner was gored in the face and many more were fortunate to not be seriously injured during a chaotic bull run at Spain’s San Fermin festival on Saturday.

The six bulls and accompanying steers charged through crowds of thrill-seekers who packed the narrow street course in Pamplona. The huge animals knocked down bodies to the cobblestones, and stumbling runners caused several pileups during the two-and-a-half-minute run from the pen to the bull ring where bullfighters will kill the bulls later in the day.

One runner was pierced by a horn in the face, while 12 more people needed medical treatment for an assortment of knocks, according to the University of Navarra Hospital.

A black bull broke away from the pack early in the 875-meter (957-yard) run and plowed into a group of people, smacking one full in the side of the face with a horn. It was not clear if that was the moment of the goring.

Many runners appeared completely unaware when bulls were breathing down their necks and, instead of trying to gore them, just shoved them out of the way.

Saturday’s was the fifth morning run of the eight-day festival in northern Spain.

This year’s festival comes 100 years since the publication of Ernest Hemingway’s novel “The Sun Also Rises,” whose publication launched the San Fermin festival to international fame.

The last death at San Fermin’s bull runs occurred in 2009, but gorings and broken bones are common, partly due to the large number of novice bull runners and foreign tourists who join the experienced locals.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Justice has subpoenaed New York Times journalists after they reported on security concerns involving the new, Qatari-gifted Air Force One, marking a dramatic escalation of President Donald Trump ’s campaign against the media that has drawn condemnation for eroding a fundamental freedom of American democracy.

The new jet, a present from the U.S. ally that the administration spent $400 million on to retrofit and upgrade, entered service last week. But Trump used an older model Air Force One jet to leave a NATO summit in Turkey and later referenced threats against him made by Iran.

The subpoenas seek to force the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan next week, the Times said, adding that federal agents delivered some subpoenas to the reporters at their homes.

They were issued after FBI Director Kash Patel and other Justice Department officials met at the White House on Friday to talk about the matter, according to a person familiar with the discussions who was not authorized to discuss the issue publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The journalists subpoenaed included Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt, the Times reported.

It also said that before its first story was published, a senior official at the FBI contacted a reporter and editor to ask that the article be held, citing national security issues. The newspaper said that the FBI official declined to explain the security issue but asked The Times to disclose its sources for the story, which the Times said it refused to do.

“The appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects,” David McCraw, a lawyer for the Times, said in a statement.

The White House did not answer messages seeking comment about the subpoenas of the Times journalists.

Bruce D. Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said Trump’s “war on the press is looking for another victim.”

He said in a statement that the subpoenas “break from longstanding Justice Department practice to protect the public interest and press independence by requiring prosecutors to only seek information from reporters as a last resort when all other avenues have been exhausted.”

The Justice Department said that “to be clear, reporters are not the targets, those leaking classified information are.”

Its statement said “we value and appreciate the important role that the press plays in this country, but DOJ also plays an important role to make sure that the people entrusted with our nation’s secrets do what they’re supposed to do with that information, which means not sharing classified information.”

While recognizing “there may always be natural tension there,” the department said “we are not going to ignore the law and stop investigating the people who work in the administration and think it’s okay to leak classified information impacting national security.”

Part of a pattern of anti-press actions

Issuing subpoenas represents further ramping up of Trump’s effort to threaten independent new organizations by leveraging the power of the federal government against them. It is also part of a systematic pattern by the Republican president to attempt to undermine press freedom in order to shield him from negative coverage.

Earlier this year, the Justice Department issued subpoenas seeking to compel testimony from reporters at The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. In both cases, the department later withdrew the subpoenas, though.

In January, FBI agents searched the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson, who has been covering Trump’s transformation of the federal government, as part of a leak investigation into a Pentagon contractor accused of taking home classified information.

Adam Steinbaugh, senior attorney for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said Friday’s subpoenas and the prospect of “hauling reporters before grand juries sends a chilling message to journalists and whistleblowers alike: Watch what you say, or expect a knock on the door.”

“These tactics are becoming more common,” Steinbaugh said in a statement. “That doesn’t make them normal.”

During his first term, Trump suggested that the press constituted an “enemy” of the American people. Since returning to the White House, he has waged an aggressive campaign against the media unlike any in modern U.S. history.

Trump’s attacks against news outlets and media figures he believes are overly critical of him has included filing lawsuits against outlets whose coverage he dislikes, threatening to revoke TV broadcast licenses and seeking to bend news organizations and social media companies to his will.

The Justice Department over the years has developed and revised internal policies governing how it will respond to news media leaks.

Though the department across presidential administrations has periodically seized the phone records of individual journalists in hopes of identifying sources for national security stories, it is extremely rare for the government to attempt to compel reporters to reveal their sources before a grand jury.

In April 2025, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi rescinded a policy from President Joe Biden’s Democratic administration that protected journalists from having their phone records secretly seized during leak investigations — a practice long decried by news organizations and press freedom groups.

Doing so again gave prosecutors the authority to use subpoenas, court orders and search warrants to hunt for government officials who make “unauthorized disclosures” to journalists.

A memo Bondi issued said members of the press are “presumptively entitled to advance notice of such investigative activities,” and subpoenas are to be “narrowly drawn.” Warrants must also include “protocols designed to limit the scope of intrusion into potentially protected materials or newsgathering activities,” the memo stated.

Trump didn’t use his new Air Force One while leaving Turkey

The president flew the new Air Force One to Turkey during this week’s visit. But he departed Wednesday on one of the older-model Air Force One jets for Mildenhall, a Royal Air Force base in Suffolk, England.

The newer plane also flew to Mildenhall. Trump then switched to that plane for the flight home to Joint Base Andrews.

The abrupt swap came as a shaky ceasefire with Iran had collapsed, with the U.S. launching airstrikes on Iran and Tehran attacking three Gulf Arab states. Iran and Turkey share a border, sparking speculation that the new jet lacked certain sophisticated security and countermeasure systems.

The Times, citing anonymous sources, reported the switch had come at the urging of the Secret Service, and that the newer plane lacked some of the advanced security features of the older aircraft, including antimissile capabilities.

Trump denied any security concerns, posting on social media that the stop in Mildenhall was so that service members there could view the new jet. During the flight, Trump denied to the reporters accompanying him that security concerns involving Iran were a factor in flying two planes home.

Still, asked if he was aware of any credible threats against Air Force One by Iran, Trump responded, “I have a threat all the time. I’m No. 1 on their list.”

___

Associated Press writers Eric Tucker, Alanna Durkin Richer, Michelle L. Price and Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report.

The school has taken a leap forward with an improved rating

A Cambridgeshire school that children feel “immensely proud” to be a part of has been praised by Ofsted in its latest inspection. Elm C of E Primary School, on Main Road in Elm caters to children aged between two and 11, according to the education watchdog.

At current, there are 228 children on its roll. In 2022, the school was rated as ‘good’ overall by Ofsted. However it was rated ‘strong standard’ and ‘expected standard’ in its most recent inspection report published on July 2.

The school received a ‘strong standard’ rating in four areas. These areas are: attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, inclusion and leadership and governance.

In the categories early years, personal development and wellbeing and achievement, the school was handed an ‘expected standard’ rating.

The report said: “Pupils are immensely proud to be part of their school community. They feel safe, valued and well supported. Pupils experience a strong sense of belonging and trust in adults across the school. They know that if they need help or are struggling with an aspect of learning or wellbeing there is always an adult who will respond and provide guidance.

“Pupils consistently meet staff’s high expectations for attendance and behaviour. They attend well. Pupils benefit from consistent routines that lead to calm and purposeful classrooms. This helps them focus, concentrate and learn effectively. Pupils approach learning with confidence. As they progress through the school, they develop high expectations of themselves.”

Inspectors praised the school for teaching an “ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum” which “encourages pupils to achieve well”. In addition, teachers were found to “meticulously check that pupils have grasped new learning, so pupils know what they understand and what they need to practice”.

Staff at the school say they “relish the challenge of guiding children through life” and offer a “unique experience for the children” and “the richest learning opportunities”, according to its website.

Elm C of E Primary School were approached for comment.