BRITAIN’S tallest man towered above a school playground as he shared his basketball expertise.

Paul Sturgess, who also holds the Guinness World Record for being the tallest basketball player in the world, visited Wantage CE Primary School to talk about his career.

Mr Sturgess stands at 7ft 7ins tall and wears size 19 shoes, and used to play for famous basketball teams including the Harlem Globetrotters.

Children at the 438-pupil school learnt to reach for their dreams during his visit in September, with activities in the playground and an assembly.

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Headteacher Andy Browne said: "His message to the school was to make the most of your abilities.

"It doesn’t matter how you look or what your body is like, everyone is different, and use who you are to be the best that you can be.

"He has certainly made the most of his height, and our children loved learning basketball skills with him."

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Pic: Wantage CE Primary School

According to Ofsted, staff and children are already aiming high at the school.

Inspectors visited just before the summer break and re-awarded the academy’s previous rating of ‘good.’

The report said: “The headteacher and senior leaders are ambitious for pupils and have high expectations of what they can achieve.

“You have set high expectations for disadvantaged pupils and are ambitious for what they can achieve.

“You have successfully created a learning environment that is calm and purposeful.”

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Ofsted said when Mr Browne took post in September last year, he quickly established an ‘accurate understanding of the school’s strengths and weaknesses.’

The report added: “With effective support from the Vale Academy Trust [which runs the school], you have implemented a range of successful strategies to improve the quality of teaching and learning.

“You have created a culture of vigilance throughout the school, where pupils’ safety and wellbeing are paramount.”

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Inspectors said they were impressed by pupils’ ‘positive attitudes to learning’, adding: “They work with high levels of concentration and a commitment to do their best.

“They work well collaboratively, sharing their understanding and discussing their ideas confidently.

“They say that school is a friendly place to be and that they enjoy coming to school.”

The report also commended ‘well-embedded routines’ leading to ‘calm and orderly’ transitions between lessons, and said pupils demonstrated ‘increasingly sophisticated vocabulary.’

Mr Browne said: “We are delighted with our ‘good’ judgement.

“We have skilled staff at Wantage CE Primary School who care deeply about our pupils, who are passionate about every child being the best that they can be so that they flourish in every aspect of school life.

“The support we receive from the Vale Academy Trust and the Diocese of Oxford also contributes towards securing the best outcomes for them.”