A SURBITON school has been awarded a ‘good’ Ofsted rating two years after teachers were told it needed to improve.

Hollyfield School and Sixth Form was given the rating in all four inspection categories including effectiveness of leadership and quality of teaching.

The school’s 16 to 19 study programmes were also praised after the inspection at the end of April. The report stated inspectors saw a “clear improvement” and “change of culture of the school”.

A 2014 inspection left the Surbiton Hill school with a ‘requiring improvement’ Ofsted rating with teachers being told pupil’s progress was “below average”.

Head teacher Maggie Bailey said: “The new Ofsted framework is more rigorous than ever, so to be acknowledged as ‘good’ in all four categories is an amazing result and clearly shows the progress it has made in a really short space of time.

“A number of schools that were outstanding have received ‘good’ under the new guidance, so to be moved from ‘requires improvement’ to a ‘good’ judgement in just two years is a huge achievement.

"As with other inspections I have been involved in, the Ofsted team challenged the school at all levels: analysing data, questioning our leadership team, talking to our children, scrutinising our teaching and observing our community at work.”

Kingston and Surbiton MP James Berry said: "This is amazing news for the borough - all of our secondary schools are now rated good or outstanding by OFSTED.

"I was pleased to be able to congratulate the pupils, teachers, staff and parents in person when I spoke at Hollyfield’s leaver’s celebration. 

"In particular, I want to thank Maggie Bailey, for her leadership, drive and ambition for Hollyfield and for young people in the borough.”