Watchdogs from Ofsted say Attleborough Academy is strong in four areas, while the school is meeting expected standards in the other three areas inspected.

Leaders at the Norwich Road school hailed the "glowing" report, which was conducted using Ofsted's new inspection regime.

This means the old system of schools given one-word ratings of outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate has been replaced.

Instead, inspectors consider standards across a number of areas, including curriculum and teaching, achievement of pupils, leadership and attendance and behaviour.

Attleborough Academy (Image: Google Street View)

Attleborough Academy, run by the Sapientia Education Trust, was rated as strong for attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, personal development and wellbeing.

Inspectors said: "Teachers have strong subject knowledge. They explain new learning clearly and check pupils' understanding frequently.

"Pupils are enthusiastic about their school. They appreciate that teachers know them well and provide the right balance of challenge and support."

Inspectors also found: "Leaders have created a school culture where pupils consistently meet their high expectations.

"Staff explicitly teach pupils what positive behaviour and strong attitudes to learning look like. Pupils respond very positively to these expectations."

Inspectors said expected standards were met in achievement, leadership and governance and post 16 provision.

Neil McShane, executive headteacher, said: "We are very proud of this report which recognises the hard work, commitment and professionalism of our staff, the very positive attitudes of our students and the strong support of our families and trust.

"We were judged against the new Ofsted framework, where expectations have been deliberately raised and, we were told, most schools can now expect to be judged as at 'expected standard' with a 'needs attention' grading in some areas.

"Against that backdrop, it is reassuring that inspectors graded us as 'strong' in so many aspects of our work."

Jonathan Taylor, chief executive of the Sapientia Education Trust, hailed the "glowing" report.

He added: "This is appropriate recognition of the excellence of our staff and pupils.

"This is one of the strongest reports published in the entire Eastern region so far and we are proud of the contribution Attleborough Academy makes to education in Norfolk."

© Eastern Daily Press