School receives its best report yet

The inspectors branded it a good school, with several outstanding features, especially in the sixth form.

They said achievement and standards were good and had improved over the last five years.

The students' personal development was good and they made an outstanding contribution to the community.

The school had a good curriculum, particularly in subjects relating to its technology specialism, the school was so popular that it was oversubscribed and the sixth-form curriculum met the students' needs outstandingly well.

Opportunities for work-related learning were outstanding and there was good care and support. The school's boarding provision was also judged to be good.

Joint acting head teachers Dr John Peat and Maureen Ashley said: "We are thrilled with the report. We believe it is our best yet."

The Ofsted inspectors also wrote to the students, informing them of what they found to be positive about the school during their visit earlier this month.

The letter told them that their school provided them with a good standard of education and they were taught well and made better progress than most students of their ages.

The school caters for more than 2,000 pupils, aged from 11 to 18, at two sites, Church Street and Shooting Field, Steyning.