STUDENTS and staff from The Cotswold School are rejoicing - as this week they discovered they had achieved the highest accolade possible from Ofsted:  Outstanding across all categories.

The Bourton-on-the-Water school received Outstanding in all five categories inspected by Ofsted; leadership and management, behaviour and safety of pupils, quality of teaching, achievement of pupils, and sixth form provision.

Ofsted inspectors praised the school and its headteacher Will Morgan, saying: "The headteacher has high expectations and aspirations for the academy. Through his dedication and drive he has inspired outstanding leadership at all levels."

And the teaching staff were also celebrated, as inspectors said: "Teachers have high expectations of all students, regardless of their ability.

"They plan lessons that engage and challenge students, and use questioning to deepen understanding, so that students achieve at the highest level."

The school was inspected on March 18-19 this year.

Principal of the school Mr Will Morgan said ‘While the school’s last three consecutive Ofsted inspections were all ‘outstanding’, this is our first as an Academy and it has been carried out under Ofsted’s new and even more rigorous inspection criteria.

"To receive ‘Outstanding’ across all categories is a truly fantastic achievement."

When asked what the key is to achieving an ‘Outstanding’ ranking, Mr Morgan said: ‘Hard work, and dedication from an enormous team – one that is made up of talented staff, enthused, happy students, supportive parents and a superb Board of Governors.

"Together we have a single focus: that each individual student achieves.

"I am immensely proud. We all are. These accolades and the Ofsted inspection ranking, while giving us a chance to celebrate, also inspire us and spur us on.

"We will push on - aspiring to even greater achievements from all our wonderful young people, preparing them to meet and embrace all the exciting opportunities that lie ahead."