HIGHCLIFFE school is celebrating a positive inspection from education standards officers.

Ofsted rated the school as Good following a recent two-day visit to the institution on Parkside .

Inspectors rated the educational establishment equally across five key categories, which all contributed to delivering the rating.

The report by Ofsted said Patrick Earnshaw, who was appointed head teacher in 2014, has made “ significant strategic differences to the school”, which has “improved the well-being and confidence of pupils.”

On the rating, Mr Earnshaw said: “We are pleased the Ofsted team recognised many of the school’s strengths. They agreed with our own evaluation of ourselves as a good school with a flourishing sixth form that is a strength of the school.

“I am delighted with the outcome on behalf of my colleagues and our students.”

Mr Earnshaw added: “School staff have worked successfully in the last three years to move the school forward in the face of its unfair per-pupil funding compared to many other schools.

“I congratulate and celebrate my colleagues and students’ achievements identified in this report.”

The report matches the good rating given by inspectors who visited the school in 2013.