HIGH-FLYING St Alban's school has received a glowing report from education inspectors.The Catholic high school has gone from strength to strength over the last ten years.

HIGH-FLYING St Alban's school has received a glowing report from education inspectors.

The Catholic high school has gone from strength to strength over the last ten years.

And the praise heaped upon it from Ofsted inspectors is further confirmation of the Digby Road school's achievements.

Following their investigation in February, inspectors concluded St Alban's was "a very good school" with "no significant areas for improvement".

Headteacher Dennis McGarry was thrilled by the glowing Ofsted inspection.

He said: "I am delighted with this report which reflects the hard work and dedication of all those involved in this high achieving Catholic high school.

"We believe that we are doing a good job, but it is great when an external body such as Ofsted says that we are doing so."

The trailblazing school was the first in Ipswich – and one of the first in the country – to achieve specialist status.

Money was ploughed into St Alban's after it was granted technology college status in 1994.

Investment in technology is now set to continue for another four years after an extension was granted to specialist status.

In 1998, the school received a double boost with a sixth form launch and being named a Beacon School in recognition of academic success.

And St Alban's pupils are looking forward to brand spanking new arts and humanities facilities with a £1.8million building programme starting in summer.

With that background, Ofsted inspectors needed only a short inspection to decide the school was very strong.

A more detailed examination was carried out in the new sixth form, which inspectors found to be "very successful."

The report said: "Teaching is very good across all subjects. Leadership and management are very good, providing direction and purpose and a strong commitment to high achievement and success."