HEYWOOD Community School at Cinderford is vibrant and rapidly improving, says headteacher Mr Ken Bush.
Commenting on its recent OFSTED inspection, Mr Bush said the school had emerged with great credit.
He said the inspection team had particularly praised the quality of the relationships between teachers and students which provided a supportive climate for learning.
There was also praise for the school's strong links with local primary schools and the college and strong leadership and management.
Teaching and learning was found to be most impressive, especially in years 10 and 11.
The report says improvements needed to be made to further raise the achievement of boys to match the above average level of girls and to continue to increase the levels of attendance.
Describing the report as "overwhelmingly positive," Mr Bush said the school has made significant progress since the last inspection in 1997.
"The most pleasing feature is the confirmation that teaching and learning is of a consistently high quality – 97 per cent of lessons were found to be at least satisfactory, an improvement of over 20 per cent on the result six years ago and a figure above the national average.
"I am also delighted that in the report the inspection team have highlighted students' positive attitudes and the strenuous efforts we make as a staff to develop 'the whole person' and not just academic potential," he said.
Mr Bush said there were always areas in which a school could do better, but the report provided further proof Heywood was a vibrant and improving school.
•Heywood has recently received two special awards. For the second time it has won a 'School Achievement Award' for substantially improving examination results over a three-year period, and it has also retained its 'Sportsmark' award status.