BUTLERS Court Combined School in Beaconsfield is the only school in the county singled out for special praise by the Ofsted Chief Inspector in his annual report.

The 371-pupil school in Wattleton Road has many advantages. It has a largely middle-class catchment area, supportive parents, only three children with statements of special educational needs, few children with English as a second language and more parents wanting their children to go to the schools than there are places.

But, as headteacher for the past 18 years James Astley said, the school is not judged on how it does in comparison with schools with massive problems, but with schools with a similar background.

And it still came out top of the class.

The chief inspector picked out Butlers Court on the basis of its Ofsted report last spring, which praised high quality teaching and high achievements and placed it in the top five per cent nationally.

Governors' chairman Henry Wilson described Butlers Court as brilliant, thanks to its teachers.

"One has to accept it is in a middle-class area, but we still have our share of broken homes and children from low income families," he said.

He has the same recruitment problems as other schools, because of house prices in the area and the staff, many of whom started there after qualifying and have stayed for years, are expected to be able to cope with everything.

As well as getting first-rate national test results in English, maths and science, other things flourish, including music, sport and drama.

He said: "Learning is our core business. Lessons are carefully planned with a strong scheme of work. Teaching and learning is everything."