IT was top marks for a Bromsgrove school - which has been rated as outstanding by inspectors.

Staff and students, governors and parents at South Bromsgrove High School have been celebrating the findings of their latest Ofsted inspection, published this week.

Inspectors visited the Charford Road-based school for two days in October, and observed 47 lessons taught by 44 teachers.

In four categories judged; the achievement of pupils, quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils and leadership and management, the school was given a rating of one, which is outstanding in Ofsted’s criteria.

Inspectors found all students, regardless of background or ability, make excellent progress, and lessons are well planned to ensure students are motivated by them.

South’s teachers are described as highly skilled, ambitious practitioners, who promote consistently excellent learning.

Inspectors also praised the schools’ exceptional arts provision, with the largest Duke of Edinburgh school-based centre in the country.

The inspectors report suggested the only way the school could improve further was by ensuring the marking of student’s work provides crystal-clear advice on where further improvement could be made.

South Bromsgrove’s headteacher, Paul Topping, said he was delighted for all involved with the school.

“Ofsted has acknowledged, in the highest terms, the school’s success, the quality of teaching and many aspects of our work,” he said.

“This school is a brilliant place to be a student, and to train to be a teacher.

“It is widely accepted that, since September, Ofsted have raised the bar to achieving outstanding status considerably.

“South is now officially recognised as one of the most successful schools in the country.”