AN inspector has praised a secondary school for producing “happy, healthy and successful” pupils.

John Kyrle High School in Ross-on-Wye received an Ofsted inspection last month, which rated the school “good overall with outstanding leadership and management, pupil behaviour, safeguarding and sixth form”.

The inspection, one of the new ‘Short’ Ofsted assessments, endorsed the findings of the school’s last full inspection in 2012.

Inspectors reported that pupils were well behaved, polite and friendly; students were well prepared for life after school because of excellent attitudes to learning and strong academic results; parents valued the school’s education, in particular the school’s sixth form; and staff were proud to work at the school and had high expectations of pupils.

In a letter to head teacher Nigel Griffiths, Ofsted inspector Alun Williams says: “The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection…supported by strong senior leaders and an effective board of trustees, you tackle weaknesses quickly. You are never complacent, but are determined that the school should continue to improve.”

He adds: “Staff are proud to work at the school. They have high expectations of pupils and they consistently model respectful behaviour.

“Pupils are well behaved, polite and friendly. Because of excellent attitudes to learning and strong academic results, pupils are very well prepared for life after school. You are successful in your aim to develop young people who are ‘happy, healthy and successful’.

He notes that parents praised its “successful and high-performing sixth form”.

The school was also applauded for “identifying pupils with weaknesses in literacy or numeracy when they move to the school” and helping them make “rapid progress”, with those initially judged below national standards leaving with passes above national averages.

Other highlights include better attendance rates of disadvantaged pupils and “high-quality support” for those with special educational needs.

The school’s safeguarding procedures were also seen to be effective and well understood, with “meticulous leadership” in this area.

Mr Williams recommended that the school now strives to bring the teaching of modern foreign languages up to the same high quality as the best in the school, and further improvement in the attendance of disadvantaged pupils to match the attendance of other pupils nationally.

The inspection team met with the school’s senior team, trustees (governors), staff and students, visited lessons, reviewed school documentation and considered more than 200 responses to online questionnaires from parents and teachers.

Mr Griffiths said: “I am delighted to report that once again Ofsted inspectors are very positive about the work we do at the school, and in particular our pupils and staff.”

The Ofsted letter is available to read on the school website at http://jkhs.org.uk