INSPECTORS have described an Ipswich high school as “outstanding”, in a report published today.

INSPECTORS have described an Ipswich high school as “outstanding”, in a report published today.

St Alban's Catholic High School, in Digby Road, Ipswich, was visited by Office in Standards in Education (OfSTED) inspectors in February, spending the two days observing lessons and assemblies, meeting staff, students and governors, and analysing the school's own self-evaluation.

Their report said: “St Alban's is an outstanding school which provides an excellent standard of education for its students.

“The outstanding achievements of its students are underpinned by a profound understanding of the Catholic values that are part of the everyday life for the school.

“This makes the school a calm, safe and happy place for students.”

The report identified two areas for improvement:

The arrangements for consulting with parents

The rigour and consistency of marking students' work.

Teaching and learning, the school's curriculum, care, guidance and support and leadership and management at the school were also praised.

The inspectors added: “Standards observed in lessons are high. Teachers use their excellent subject knowledge and skills to make their lessons stimulating and challenging.”

Deputy headteacher Sean Hayes said: “St Alban's GCSE results last year were very good with 66per cent achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C including English and maths

“This verdict of Outstanding is a rewarding judgement on the hard work of staff, students and governors and confirms that the school is moving forward effectively.

“We are particularly pleased that Ofsted have identified that the Catholic ethos is both evident in the daily life of the school and has a positive effect on the achievements of its students.”

Do you have a child at St Alban's? What do you think? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

St Alban's is a six form entry mixed comprehensive high school.

The Sixth Form opened in 1998 and has expanded each year to 178 students in September 2006.

The school is oversubscribed despite expanding in 2004 when £1.8m of new buildings were opened.

There are 925 students on roll currently and this is expected to rise to almost 1000 in the next two years.

The school's A-level results were the best in Suffolk with an average UCAS points score per candidate of 383.