Sophie, Countess of Wessex, glad to be back at St Mary's

Arriving half an hour early, the Countess of Wessex was obviously delighted to have more time to spend with a school dear to her heart.

And St Mary's Wrestwood Children's Trust was equally welcoming on Wednesday.

Her Royal Highness, who is patron of the Wrestwood Road school, is becoming a bit of a frequent visitor. This was her third visit in as many years and she said she hoped to "come back again and again".

It had been her request to visit the school as she was in East Sussex for two other engagements and was timed to enable her to enjoy an informal lunch.

Head of catering Leah Norman ensured the Countess' liking for Marmite was satisfied with cheese and Marmite pinwheels and Twiglets on a menu which included salmon canapes, a variety of pastry crolines and choux puffs.

She arrived in bright sunshine. "Did Bishop David have a word upstairs?" she asked.

Accompanying her was her assistant private secretary Mrs Joan Butcher, her personal protection officer Sgt Stephen Mayne and the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex Mrs Phyllida Stewart-Roberts.

First to greet her was the chairman of governors Bishop David Wilcox and the principal and chief executive David Cassar.

She was then introduced to the chair of the college sub committee of trustees Ian Cross, deputy principal (head of school) Joanna Whiteman and assistant principal (head of college) Nigel Wills.

During her visit she watched and spoke to children who were demonstrating the new traverse wall funded through supermarket vouchers donated by parents and the local community.

Head of PE Alison Larkin explained the wall was very tactile and designed to promote decision-making rather than climbing upwards.

The Countess spoke to the students and when teaching assistant Caroline Matthews and student Darren met in the middle, she encouraged them to pass.

"Now who's going to go in and who's going to go out?"

When Mrs Matthews asked if she could come down, the Countess laughed: "No, you've not got to the end yet."

She was invited to unveil a plaque in a new study room, designed by architects Rob and Marianne Oliver, where deputy head of college Angela Branney was teaching students about keeping safe outside.

The plaque will be displayed on a wall in the corridor where there is also a new music storeroom.

"We sense very strongly your personal interest in children with educational needs," the Bishop said.

"It is particularly encouraging to us that you chose to come to us this time and we thank you for your personal interest."

The Countess said it was a huge pleasure to be involved in the school and congratulated them on its impressive Ofsted report.

She was introduced to the seven students in the room but when she realised there was "lots of time" she said: "Why don't you all sit down and I will come and talk to you all properly."

Students and staff were outside to cheer and wave the Countess off but not before she had gone "walkabout" chatting to them all.

She ignored the waiting cars, already with their engines running and when she realised she had missed a splinter group of students, she turned and ran to speak to them.

One cheeky student planted a kiss on her hand as she went to shake hands.

David Cassar summed up the whole thing by saying the visit had topped an excellent year for St Mary's with Ofsted describing it as an outstanding school and the Commission for Social Care Inspection reporting all standards had been met with more than half exceeded.

"The visit by Her Royal Highness, the Countess of Wessex, tops the whole thing. It's the icing on a really wonderful cake," he said and revealed she wanted to come back soon and "do something with the kids".

Student Benjamin Healy, 19, presented the Countess with a bouquet after she had signed the visitors book.

There was a slight hitch here when the pen dried up but the Countess just laughed it off.