A CREATIVE class of linguists and musicians are being taught at The Manor Primary School in Melksham as head teacher Kerry Haines tries to drill in key skills at an early age.

Ms Haines said: "We like to specialise in French, sports and music. We feel it is important so we have skilled people come in and teach those subjects as well as two extra sports co-ordinators.

"It is really important to teach a language and it is best to build a pupil's skills from the very beginning of school so by the time they leave they can more or less hold a conversation in French with a native.

"We have to start young if we want the best from our children and especially with languages.

"We also like to give them some great education experiences to provide them with something that will stick with them for the rest of their lives. It also makes the learning they have here much more real for them.

"Everything is very hands on and experience-based so the children can truly see what they are learning.

"They may also not be able to have these experiences again later in life."

In their last Ofsted inspection in 2013 the school was found to be good with the teaching deemed to always be good and some of it outstanding.

Mrs Haines added: "That is where we want to be. We have had a big improvement in our SATs results and we are nicely above the national average.

"We previously had only 50 per cent of our students getting the required grades but now it is 70 per cent.

"We have increased it and now we are above the national floor so we are very pleased with the progress.

"In the end, it is about the children feeling valued and having the best experience in school that they can."