JUBILANT staff and pupils at a city school are celebrating after receiving their latest report from Government inspectors.

In it’s last Ofsted report, in September 2014, Norton College was rated overall as requiring improving. But in it’s recent report, published following an inspection earlier this year, the Independent Special School in Woodbury Lane has now been rated overall as good.

Inspectors rated effectiveness of leadership and management, the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, outcomes for pupils, and sixth form provision all as good.

Headteacher Ian Hardicker said he was particularly pleased the school had been rated outstanding in the personal development, behaviour and welfare category.

On this category Ofsted inspectors say in the report that: “The school’s work to promote pupils’ personal development and welfare is outstanding. It provides for a variety of extremely vulnerable pupils, all of whom have education, health and care plans.

“The powerful school ethos of kindness and warmth along with compassion begins with a smile, a handshake and a welcome every morning for every pupil."

To improve the school further inspectors suggest pupils have good opportunities to develop their reasoning skills in maths, teachers support pupils to develop a wide vocabulary, and to improve personal development even further by creating more opportunities for pupils to take part in debates.

Mr Hardicker said: “We are extremely proud of our achievements. We were awarded outstanding for our work with personal development - which is a fantastic achievement and certainly vindicates the hard work and determination by staff who have worked tirelessly.

“At Norton College we support young people who are not able to benefit from mainstream education. By removing the barriers to learning and giving them a tailored learning package designed to meet their specific needs our students begin to experience success.

“The vast majority of students thrive in Norton and move successfully from dependence to independence and from feeling they have little future to being confident and positive about their options.”