SUCCESSFUL Menston school St Mary’s has been awarded the highest possible grade of outstanding by Government inspectors.

The inspection of the Catholic voluntary academy, on Bradford Road, using the new more rigorous framework, took place on November 25 and 26.

It involved five inspectors spending time in school observing lessons and having meetings with staff, students and governors. The inspectors were also able to take into account the views of parents through the use of parent view on the Ofsted website.

Ofsted inspectors described the school as an outstanding provider of education, which prepares young people extremely well for their future careers regardless of individual background or personal aspiration.

Headteacher Darren Beardsley said: “I am delighted with the outcome of the inspection, where the grade awarded by the inspectors for the overall effectiveness of the school is outstanding.

“In order to achieve this overall grade, the school was graded as outstanding in the following sub-categories of the inspection: achievement of pupils, quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils and leadership and management.”

Ofsted inspectors also found governors and senior leaders set themselves high goals, students’ attitudes to learning were extremely positive, and teachers knew their subject well, and that leaders at all levels share a passion and vision for students of all ages to do their very best.

Mr Beardsley added: “St Mary’s has an excellent reputation with many aspects of the school’s work being recognised nationally and internationally. As a school we strive to provide world class Catholic education and this Ofsted Report recognises all the hard work of the entire school community.

“The Ofsted inspection comes only months after the school was graded as outstanding in the Diocesan Section 48 inspection of The Catholic Life of the School, with St Mary’s being one of the few schools in the country to achieve outstanding grades in both inspections.” St Mary’s Menston Catholic Voluntary Academy converted to become an academy school in The Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust in March 2013.